Soda Farls (2024)

• Amy's Notes
• Granny's Top Tips
• Irish Soda Farl Recipe

If you are looking for an easy, delicious bread, that you can make in less than 40 minutes (start to finish), look no further than Soda Farls!

This traditional Irish bread is not only quick and simple to make, it is also super delicious – not to mention cheap. Both Soda Bread and Soda Farls have a lot of history in Ireland, being a staple food during the Irish famine, due to it’s cheap ingredients, but filling nature.

Historically, soda farls would be made using a griddle over an open fire. Nowadays, you would generally make them on your stove top, with a griddle pan, or simply a frying pan.

Maybe not quite as authentic but definitely more suited to your average modern household setting!

And an easy one to bake for any St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Plain Flour
Much like our Soda Bread recipe, plain flour is all that is required for Soda Farls. We add bicarbonate of soda for the rise, so no self-raising flour required. You can also use a wholemeal flour, or even a combination of wholemeal and white flour, should you so desire.

Bicarbonate of Soda
Being a yeast-free bread, soda farls rely on the reaction between the bicarbonate of soda and the acid in the buttermilk, to create bubbles whilst baking, resulting in a lift and rise in the dough. It’s a fun bit of science, much like those volcanos you made at school, with vinegar and bicarbonate.
The bicarbonate of soda is also where they, of course, get their name from.

Salt
For flavour of course. I recommend using sea salt but you can experiment with different kinds of salt to get your perfect flavour.

Buttermilk
If we’re going for a traditional take on soda farls, it has to be buttermilk. Buttermilk already has it’s own acidity to it, so reacts perfectly with the bicarbonate of soda – no additional ingredients required.
If however you can’t get your hands on buttermilk, or you want the option to make it without, you can substitute with a standard milk (preferably whole-fat or soya, although others can be used too), and a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, to create the missing acidity. I would always recommend using slightly less milk in this instance, as buttermilk tends to be naturally thicker. See the recipe notes for more info.

Soda Farls are a yeast-free bread, similar to Soda Bread but instead of baking it in an oven, you bake them on the stove top; traditionally using a griddle but it is also possible to use a frying pan.

Unlike yeast breads, Soda Farls rely on the reaction between the bicarbonate of soda and the acid in the buttermilk to give it it’s rise, as well as it’s familiar flavour. This also makes them incredibly easy to make, in very little time.

Soda Farls are very easy to make. You only need 4 ingredient; flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and buttermilk. You simply combine them all together, being very cautious with your mixing and kneading – like Soda Bread, Soda Farls need a light touch. Then use your hands to flatten the dough into a circle, before cutting into 4 individual triangular rolls.

You then “bake” them on a griddle or frying pan, flipping half way through, ensuring both sides are a lovely golden colour, and your Farls have a nice rise.

The “soda” part – unsurprisingly – comes from the fact that Soda Farls are made with bicarbonate of soda.

The “farls” part however comes from the Gaelic word “fardel”, which means “four part”. So referencing to the way Soda Farls are cut into four pieces before baking.

Soda Farls are best enjoyed shortly after making, preferably whilst still warm. My favourite way to enjoy them is with a spread of butter and a dollop of jam.

Alternatively they can be a great breakfast addition, used in place of a Morning Roll, with whatever your favourite breakfast roll filling may be.

Or, in perhaps the most iconic way, as part of an Ulster Fry – Ireland’s answer to a cooked breakfast.

Nut-free: There is no nuts in this recipe for Soda Farls but be sure to double check your individual ingredients for any hidden nuts.

Egg-free:There is no eggs used in this recipe but be sure to check your individual ingredients for any hidden egg.

Dairy-free: To make these Soda Farls dairy-free, use 250ml of your dairy-free milk of choice (in place of the buttermilk in the recipe), mixed with 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Prepare your milk mixture about 30 minutes before, which will allow your milk to thicken ever-so slightly.

Vegan: To make these Vegan Soda Farls, use the dairy-free tip above.