Baking Potato Farls and Soda Bread

Melodi

Disaster Cat
This was posted by a friend from Belfast and is good basic Irish/Northern Irish cooking - and both items are traditionally made in a griddle on the top of the stove though you can bake the soda farls (bread) in an oven or cast iron pot.

The measurements are kind of by guess and by gosh but that was how I was taught to make the potato farls (similar to Scandinavian griddle bread but thicker and faster - you don't have to roll it out, you can press with your hands).

They are a great way to use up an extra mashed potato and the soda bread is faster than yeast bread, Americans often add fruits, nuts, whole grains, and sugar but the Irish seldom do; though they do make a whole wheat version that is traditional.

Post start's here:
During the lock down let's bake some soda farls & potato bread.....

Here's recipes a lady posted on another forum. I saved the post, tried the recipes and loved them...

Potato and Soda farls.
Here is recipes for Potato Bread and Soda bread:

Potato bread - 1 lb potatoes mashed with a bit of butter, salt. 4 ozs plain flour. Mix together, roll out flat and cut into 4 farls, (this mix will make a lot of farls,) place on a hot griddle, or electric fry pan dusted with flour, and cook for 2-3 mins each side.

Soda Bread - 1 lb of plain flour, sieve with 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, (some people add a bit of butter and rub it into the flour here, I don't) mix with approx 1/2 pint buttermilk.


The secret is you do not kneed like bread, you just gently turn it over on a floured bench till it comes together, if you work it too much it will loose the 'bubbles and air' put in with the baking soda.

If you want a bannock then gently shape into a round, cut a cross on the top, (to let out the fairies) or bless the loaf, lightly flour the top, and put it on a baking tray 370F for about 40-45 mins. When you bring it out pop it onto a clean tea towel and cover till needed, better eaten same day.

If you want farls, have your griddle or electric pan on medium to high, cut the mix in half, each half will make four farls. Each farl will take about 4 mins each side, set up on their sides on the edge of the griddle while you cook the rest.

Believe me, you will get so used to it you won't even need to time them, you will see when they are done. Take off, wrap in a clean tea towel, or grab the butter and gorb them down, that's what happens in my house. Especially with the Potato farls.

Oh! and for all of you around the world who can't find buttermilk in the shops, take 500mls milk, put in 2 tablespoons lemon juice stir, leave for about 15 mins, and use this instead of buttermilk.. In fact I prefer this in the bread, it is much more moist. happy baking..."
I used a frying pan on gas hob...

My friends Mr Copy & Mrs Paste helped me with this recipe.
Feel free to share, good luck,
John.......

I have no link for this other than facebook and I have no idea who "John" is but we thank him! - Melodi
 
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