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I personally did not grow up eating Potato Farls, probably because around me, there was no such thing as leftover mashed potatoes. (I am still a mashed potato fiend, but I’ve managed to turn it down to a more respectable level.)
But when I am visiting family in Ireland, Potato Farls is one of the foods I am most excited to eat (along with Irish Brown Bread and the rest of the components of a beautiful Ulster Fry.)
Potato Farls is just mashed potatoes kneaded with some flour, butter, salt, and pepper, then fried up into tasty little pieces, making them the perfect recipe for the day after Thanksgiving!
Ingredients (multiply as needed):
- 1 lb mashed potatoes
- 1 cup flour, plus more as needed
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for frying
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- olive oil
Begin by melting your butter, then adding all your ingredients to a bowl. Keep your flour out, you may need to add more as you go along.
Mix to combine until it starts to come together, then use your hands to mix it until it becomes a ball of dough. If it is super sticky, dust with flour little by little until it no longer sticks to floured hands.
Turn out the dough onto a clean countertop dusted with flour and knead until it becomes a smooth ball of dough.
Cut (paid link) the dough into 4 somewhat equally sized pieces, then roll those pieces into balls.
Take one of the balls, forming it into a circular disk on your lightly floured surface.
Use a rolling pin (paid link) to roll out the dough to about 1/4″, or thinner if you’d like.
Slice the dough into wedges – for mine, I went with 8 slices, but 4 or 2 are also fine, whatever makes you happy.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter to a saute pan over medium to medium high heat.
When the butter has melted, add in some of your wedges. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until browned.
Flip and continue cooking until browned on the other side.
Remove from heat and continue with the remaining dough.
You can also freeze the uncooked doughs for future use, just add to your fridge the night before you plan on making them to allow the dough to thaw.
Such a simple recipe, yet oh so tasty. I mean, was there any question that a fried up piece of leftover mashed potato would be good?
You can get as creative as you want with these. Add in some herbs, cheese, onion, or whatever you’d like!
Potato Farls
Kaitlin @ I Can Cook That
An Irish potato bread recipe using leftover mashed potatoes. Traditionally served as a component of an Ulster Fry breakfast.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Irish
Ingredients
- 1 lb mashed potatoes
- 1 cup flour plus more as needed
- 4 tablespoons 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted, plus more for frying
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- olive oil
Instructions
Begin by melting your butter, then adding all your ingredients to a bowl. Keep your flour out, you may need to add more as you go along.
Mix to combine until it starts to come together, then use your hands to mix it until it becomes a ball of dough. If it is super sticky, dust with flour little by little until it no longer sticks to floured hands.
Turn out the dough onto a clean countertop dusted with flour and knead until it becomes a smooth ball of dough.
Cut the dough into 4 somewhat equally sized pieces, then roll those pieces into balls.
Take one of the balls, forming it into a circular disk on your lightly floured surface.
Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to about 1/4″, or thinner if you’d like.
Slice the dough into wedges – for mine, I went with 8 slices, but 4 or 2 are also fine, whatever makes you happy.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter to a saute pan over medium to medium high heat.
When the butter has melted, add in some of your wedges. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until browned.
Flip and continue cooking until browned on the other side.
Remove from heat and continue with the remaining dough.
Notes
If you make this recipe, share a photo on Instagram and tag me@icancookthat!
Keyword Breakfast, Farls, Potato
FAQs
It differs from boxty as boxty is made of raw potatoes whereas potato cake is made from cooked potatoes. In Ireland potato cakes are typically known as potato bread and are served in traditional breakfasts along with eggs and bacon. The Recipe: Boil potatoes in hot water until they are completely soft.
What are potato farls made of? ›
Potato Farls is just mashed potatoes kneaded with some flour, butter, salt, and pepper, then fried up into tasty little pieces, making them the perfect recipe for the day after Thanksgiving!
Is potato bread Irish or Scottish? ›
Potato bread has been a staple in Ireland for centuries, not only because of the amount of potatoes we ate pre-Famine, but also because Ireland was not a great place to grow soft wheat due to the weather. Boiled potatoes can be mixed with any flour to make a rough potato patty that can be cooked in a pan or on a range.
Is Irish potato protein or carbohydrate? ›
Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum), named after the Irish who were among the first to accept the potato, proved to be a source of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins (Hamilton et al., 2004). Irish potato can also be referred to as 'white potato'.
Which potatoes are best for baking? ›
Russet potatoes are arguably the best potatoes for baking, although they are also great for mashing and frying. The main reason thick-skinned Russet potatoes are perfect for baking and more is because they contain significant amounts of starch.
Are potato scones the same as potato farls? ›
Also known as potato cakes or scones, potato farls are made from a flour and potato dough which is rolled flat and cut into slices, ready to cook.
Why is potato bread so good? ›
Potato bread hits each mark, with each bite somehow tender and substantial. Plus, adding potato to bread boosts its nutritional profile. Potatoes provide fiber comparable to whole-wheat bread, along with zinc, iron and a healthy jolt of potassium, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
What's the difference between soda bread and farls? ›
The "griddle cakes", "griddle bread" (or soda farls in Ulster) take a more rounded shape and have a cross cut in the top to allow the bread to expand. The griddle cake or farl is a more flattened type of bread. It is cooked on a griddle, allowing it to take a more flat shape, and it is split into four sections.
Does potato bread taste like potato? ›
Potato bread is commercially available in the United States as a light and airy bread very similar to normal mass-produced white bread, but with a yellow tint, thicker texture, and a light potato flavor.
Can you put potato bread in the toaster? ›
Once they are golden brown on both sides take the bread off the heat and place on a wire cooling rack. Hurrah! Your potato farls are ready to eat. Pop them in the toaster and spread with butter and a grind of black pepper, and if you are feeling indulgent some thin slices of mature cheddar or smoked salmon.
So if you're on a limited-calorie diet, or trying to avoid carbs, eating this bread will likely not fit in with your diet. However, if you're looking to simply increase your vitamin, mineral, and fiber consumption, potato bread is an excellent way to sneak in more of these healthy micronutrients.
How long does potato bread last? ›
Sourdough and brioche both go stale by the next day's breakfast, and who needs the pressure of a ticking time-bread? Potato bread lasts a week or more at its exact grocery-store softness. It's a bread with staying power.
Can a diabetic patient eat Irish potatoes? ›
Potatoes and diabetes. Share on Pinterest In moderation, a person with diabetes may eat potatoes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend eating starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, as part of a healthful diet. Starch is a complex carbohydrate that takes the body longer to break down than simple sugars.
Is Irish potato inflammatory? ›
Eating potatoes will boost your vitamin, mineral, and phytonutrient intake, promote a healthy gut, and have anti-inflammatory effects.
Is Irish potato healthier than rice? ›
Potatoes also have vitamin C, unlike rice. Plus, potatoes contain three times more minerals than rice, such as phosphorus, potassium and magnesium when you leave the skin on. Sweet potatoes on the other hand are even healthier than the standard potato, containing as much as twice the high amounts of vitamin!
What is a farl in Scotland? ›
Farl is a shorter form of fardel, the word once used in some parts of Lowland Scotland for "a three-cornered cake, usually oatcake, generally the fourth part of a round". In earlier Scots fardell meant a fourth or quarter.
Are boxty and latkes the same? ›
Boxty is different from other potato pancakes or latkes, and you'll see that once you bite into one and notice the crispy hash brown-like outside and soft, dough-like inside.
What are the three types of potatoes? ›
Potatoes are split into 3 different classifications: starchy, waxy, and all-purpose. These classifications are given based on their texture, starch content, and moisture. Every potato type falls somewhere along this spectrum.
What is a boxty made of? ›
Boxty is a thick pancake of mashed and shredded potatoes, flour, baking soda, and buttermilk fried in butter or lard. These are traditionally formed into a circle and cut into quarters or triangles and are usually served as a side dish or appetizer. These are a great way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes.
