Fried Bread: a Very Naughty Breakfast—British Style
Fried bread isn’t exactly something you need a recipe for, but sometimes the simplest things are the best!
What exactly is a “naughty breakfast”?
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I’m referring to the fact that this bread is fried in bacon fat. However, it isn’t a truly naughty breakfast because it’s been made clear that bacon fat is not a bad thing (if it comes from a humanely and properly raised pork product). I personally only buy the best quality bacon and those without sugar, nitrates or nitrites.
When you fry bread in bacon fat, it soaks up all that flavor and becomes crispy! Then all you need is a fried egg to top it off. Maybe some square sausage, potato scones and black pudding?
I know now that it’s all my father’s fault, “Try some fried bread”, he said. I was only a little girl, how was I to know? I tried it and I loved it. That was it, I was hooked.
Meet my crazy Dad and his favorite pasta!
This isn’t only a British thing, though; I hear they’re naughty “down south” too, so I’m in good company. Even Bon Appètit featured an article named, 15 Ways to Use Bacon Fat.
You could serve fried bread with dippy eggs, too.
I haven’t had fried bread in years, honest. So if I only make it, say–once a year, then it’s okay, right? I’d say it’s perfectly permissible to be naughty once in a while.
Excuse me while I go mark my calendar.
Do you know how to make proper beans on toast?
And don’t forget to mark yours; make this soon!
Fried Bread (British Style)
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- leftover bacon fat (I use naturally cured, nitrate/nitrite free) – or fry some bacon to keep the fat
- bread, preferably homemade
- egg
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
Fry the bacon, reserving the fat in the (preferably cast iron) pan.
Next, fry the bread and egg in the bacon fat, side by side. The bread should turn a lovely golden brown color; cook the egg as desired (or you can soft-boil it, poach it, etc.)
Place the fried bread on a plate and top with the egg, and a side of bacon. Coddled eggs work, too!
Serve immediately with a steaming, hot mug of tea.
If you’re into fried eggs for breakfast, you may also be interested in my recipe for potato scones (which aren’t really scones at all). These are also incredibly delicious when fried in bacon grease!
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Fried Bread: a Very Naughty Breakfast--but oh, so Worth it!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp leftover bacon fat I use naturally cured, nitrate/nitrite free - or fry 2 rashers of bacon and use the fat
- 1 slice bread preferably homemade
- 1 egg cage free, organic
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put the bacon fat in pan (preferably cast iron).
- Fry the bread and egg in the bacon fat, side by side. The bread should turn a lovely golden brown color. Cook the egg as desired (or you can soft-boil it, poach it, etc.)
- Place the fried bread on a plate and top with the egg, and a side of bacon.
- Serve immediately with a steaming, hot mug of tea.
Nutrition
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My Auntie Ann, who lives in the Lake District in England, used to make this for breakfast most mornings during our bi-annual visits from Canada in the 1970s. My brothers and I had never had it before, and we found it delicious and addictive. Of course, the quality and type of bacon makes a big difference. English bacon is generally quite different from what we get in Canada. It seems to me it is made from the loan, rather than the belly. And I’m not sure it’s as heavily smoked as what we get here is (if it’s even smoked at all).
I used to cut a hole in a slice of bread, fry it in bacon fat then drop an egg into the hole and continue cooking. My kids loved this. I called it “Toad in the hole” because i did not know what else to call this artery clogging delight.
Regards,
Scottish born Canadian.
Excellent idea, Jim! Now I want this for breakfast! ;)
I used to make this for my kids also. We called it “Egg in a Nest” as I was taught by my mother. We are 5th generation Californians whose ancestors came in with the gold rush of 1849.
Wow, that’s so cool! Not too many native Californians here in LA! Yes, so delicious! Glad you and your family enjoy it, too!
In London, these are calked ox-eye eggs. Toad in the Hole is a dish of British sausages (bangers), baked in a Yorkshire Pudding batter.
But, y’know, a rose by any name ..
Enjoy your breakfast, Jim
Yum my new Lunch occasionally ❣️I eat eggs almost daily and this is a lovely new way for me to enjoy☕️ eggs, bacon, potato & bread= Heaven😇 mind now I also drink carrot/celery juice so it all balances out 🤓🍀
Sounds like a perfectly balanced diet to me, Carol! I’m so happy to hear about this sort of instead of so many extreme diets! Enjoy!
I am very late to this post but it looks and sounds so delicious!! I am not an egg cooking expert- how long does one cook an egg to get it to look like that? And what is it called- (soft boiled? Over easy?) thank you for any advice you can give, I plan on attempting to recreate your photo for tomorrow’s breakfast!
Hi Jackie, it really is delicious and I’m so glad you’re going to try it. The way I cooked the egg is over easy. I found this video on Serious Eats which shows how easy it is to cook the eggs this way. My only suggestions are that you not use butter if you are cooking the egg in the same pan as the bacon was cooked, before frying the bread. Also, I only salt on one side, but you can always add more if it needs it. Enjoy, and let me know how you like it! CC
Fried bread with a full English – the food of the gods
I must agree! :)