Traditional Breads
By Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen
Tracey from Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen usually welcomes visitors to her cosy thatched cottage on the shores of Strangford Lough, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, for traditional bread-making classes. This immersive experience has a Green Tourism accreditation and is perfect for food lovers, whether you’re an experience baker or not!
Though you can’t visit right now, you can get a taste of her Northern Irish griddle breads by trying some for yourself at home. Below, she shares recipes for fruit soda bannock, soda and treacle bread, potato bread and wheaten bread.
Fruit Soda Bannock
Ingredients
- 250g (2 cups) soda bread flour
- 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt
- 60g (1/2 cup) dried fruit
- 25g (1/8 cup) caster sugar
- 200 to 250ml (1 cup) – buttermilk
- 10g butter
Method
Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl and then add sugar and fruit. Pour in the buttermilk. Mix lightly to form a loose dough. Grease a 10cm deep round cake or loaf tin. Turn the dough into the tin. You can sprinkle some demerara sugar on top for an added crunch and great texture. Put into the oven for 20 mins at 190 degrees (gas mark six). Reduce heat to 150 degrees (gas mark two) and cook for a further 30 minutes. Bread should golden brown and crisp to the touch. Turn out onto a clean cloth and leave on a wire rack. Serve with butter. Enjoy!
Scotch Broth, Savoury Dishes and Desserts
By Discover Ulster Scots
Discover Ulster Scots has paired up with celebrity chef Paula McIntyre to show you how to make dishes that reflect the Ulster-Scots tradition. Watch Paula cook classic Scotch Broth in an historic cottage, and browse their website for a range of traditional recipes and video tutorials. Then try your hand at Molly Gowan and Clappy Doos (monkfish and oysters), treacle and ale cake with yellowman honeycomb and many more!
Historic Recipes
By Ulster Folk Museum
Step back in time by baking something from a real, historic recipe book. The Ulster Folk Museum has an archive of recipe books from the 19th and 20th centuries, and they’ve published a selection of them on their website. Try a lemon roll pudding, Easter cakes or hot cross bun.
Irish Stew and Colcannon Potatoes
By the Pantry at Titanic Belfast
The Pantry restaurant at Titanic Belfast has shared their recipes for some favourite Irish dishes. Make a pot of Irish stew for a warming dinner, or whip up Colcannon potatoes – the perfect traditional side dish. Or follow their potato and soda farl recipes and add sausage, bacon, egg and black pudding for a classic Ulster fry!
Avoca Recipes
Recreate the mouthwatering flavours of Avoca’s café at home. Avoca has a huge selection of their own recipes on their website, including savoury dishes, puddings, desserts and traybakes. Among them, is their recipe for potato and leek soup and the perfect afternoon tea scone.
More Ideas: Belfast from Home
Virtual Visit to Belfast
Belfast’s visitor attractions have temporarily closed their doors, but you can still experience them through 360⁰ panoramas and virtual walk-throughs!
Belfast TV and Film
Finding you’ve got more time for TV? Good! There’s never been a better time to binge on the fantastic TV series and films made right here in Belfast.
Virtual Views
Belfast and the surrounding area boast breathtaking views. Feast your eyes on our top 360-degree virtual panoramas!
14 Facts You Didn’t Know About Belfast
Discover fun facts about Belfast’s history, maritime heritage, culture, music scene and more with our top Belfast facts.
