Irish weekend fry-up: a hearty breakfast classic

Ingredients for Irish weekend fry-up

• Vegetable oil, for frying

• Sunflower oil, for frying

• Olive oil, for frying

• Butter, for frying, spreading on toast

• 1–2 medium pork sausages

• 1–2 slices thick-cut, dry-cured streaky bacon, rind removed

• 2–3 slices black and/or white pudding

• 50 g button mushrooms, sliced, or 1 large flat mushroom, stem removed

• Salt, freshly ground black pepper

• 1 ripe tomato, halved

• Pinch of sugar (if roasting the tomato in the oven)

• 1–2 eggs

• 7.5 ml milk (for scrambled eggs)

• 5–20 g butter (for scrambled eggs)

• 2 slices white or wholegrain bread

How to make Irish weekend fry-up

1. Heat 15 ml of oil and 15 g of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausages and fry for 10–15 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

2. Add the bacon to the pan and fry for 3–4 minutes on each side, until crisp and golden, dabbing off any milky liquid with paper towels.

3. Add the black and/or white pudding slices to the pan and fry for 2–3 minutes on each side, until beginning to crisp; the white pudding (if using) should turn golden. Remove the sausages, bacon, and pudding slices from the pan and drain on paper towels. Place the cooked items in an ovenproof dish and keep warm in a low oven.

4. Meanwhile, add a dash of oil and a knob of butter to another frying pan over medium heat. Add the button mushrooms and sauté for 3–4 minutes, until softened and turning golden. Season with salt and pepper, then remove from the pan and keep warm with the sausages and bacon.

5. If using a large flat mushroom, add the oil and butter to the pan and fry the mushroom for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway through, until softened and browned.

6. Season the cut side of the tomato halves with salt and pepper and drizzle over 15 ml of oil. Gently fry them, cut side down first, for 2–3 minutes, then turn over and fry for another 2–3 minutes, until just softened.

7. Alternatively, preheat the oven to 200°C (Gas mark 6) to cook the large flat mushroom and/or tomatoes. Drizzle 10 ml of olive oil or add a knob of butter to the mushroom and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 12–15 minutes, until softened. If using the oven, begin roasting the mushroom and tomatoes a few minutes before frying the sausages and bacon. Once cooked, decrease the oven temperature to low to keep everything warm.

8. To fry an egg, melt a knob of butter in a small, clean frying pan over low heat. Carefully crack the egg into the pan and allow to fry gently. For an over-easy egg, fry for 1–2 minutes, until it begins to set, then flip over and fry for another 1–2 minutes. If you prefer your egg sunny side up, fry gently for 4–5 minutes, until the yolk has filmed over. Remove from the pan and serve immediately with the other cooked ingredients.

9. For scrambled eggs, crack the eggs into a bowl, add a splash of milk, season with salt and pepper, and beat together. Add 15 g of butter to a small saucepan over low heat. Immediately pour in the eggs and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring continuously with a wooden spatula, until the butter has melted and the eggs are softly scrambled. Remove from the heat immediately to prevent overcooking. Serve with the other cooked ingredients.

10. While the eggs are cooking, toast the slices of bread in a toaster or under a preheated grill for a few minutes, turning if necessary, until golden. Butter the toast and cut the slices in half.

11. To serve, arrange everything on a warm serving plate, with the hot buttered toast on the side, accompanied by some tomato ketchup or relish.

Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.