What is in a full breakfast in the south?

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Fizl99@reddit

Black pudding and fried bread. I grew up in south london and we had black pudding

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

Then perhaps my mother intervened because my grandparents may not like black pudding. What is an acceptable alternative?

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Alarmed_College_8169@reddit

You don't need to substitute it, you can just leave it out. Likely if your mum thinks it isn't normal to have it then her parents didn't have it either.

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wildcharmander1992@reddit

Literally everything

I've seen cafes shove burgers in them I've seen ones with black, white and red pudding

I've seen ones where you could substitute hash brown for chips

I think as long as it's got toast, at least 1 or 2 types of breakfast meat (or vegan equivalent) Something potatoey ( hash brown, tattie scone etc) and fills a plate it's a fry up in my eyes

Can't personally stand bacon or eggs tbh but I can't have a fry up without at least 4 sausages, fried bread, beans etc

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merchantofshite1979@reddit

Slightly different version of black pudding, essentially - bit more spices, bit less blood. It’s good, all those variants are, but I think white pudding is the king

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spoo4brains@reddit

Hmm, have had breakfasts all over GB and have never come across red pudding.

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Puzzleheaded-Lynx204@reddit

As the post also talks about tattie scones I'm guessing red pudding is Scottish! Sounds delish

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PassiveTheme@reddit

Something potatoey ( hash brown, tattie scone etc

I would argue it doesn't need anything potatoey. Bacon, sausages, black pudding, eggs, toast, and maybe some tomatoes is my usual when I'm making one at home.

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IdeletedTheTiramisu@reddit

I got mashed potato in one in Preston once. That was weird af...

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Rebeccarebecca200@reddit

If it’s fried in a patty then god yeah, it’s lush.

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Puzzleheaded-Lynx204@reddit

One of my children will only have bacon and the other will only have sausage. Spoilt.

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Expensive-Refuse855@reddit

You already have two different forms of pork on the fry up, you don't need the black pudding.

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

There’s no such thing as too much pork

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Adorable_Orange_195@reddit

Live a hash brown but fried tattie scones are best with a fry up imo.

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Fizl99@reddit

Just leave it off. I dont have tomatoes or mushrooms as I dont like them

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custardcreams@reddit

The main thing you're missing is a mug of tea.

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hhfugrr3@reddit

Londoner here - in my opinion no full English is complete without black pudding. Not everyone likes it though.

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cdh79@reddit

Bacon, sausage (flat or cylindrical), eggs (poached, fried or scrambled), toast. Thats your basics.

Extras.

More toast. Fried bread. Eggy bread (French toast). Mushrooms. Fried tomatoes. Grilled chicken. Hash browns. Bubble and squeek. Black/red/white pudding. Baked beans. Toast.

Serve with quartered orranges sprinkled with sugar to cleanse the pallet.

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Expensive-Refuse855@reddit

Southerner here.

Black pudding is very common, but necessary for a fry up. There isnt really a replacement.

Fried bread, maybe?

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

I was going to fry my bread and possibly bake it myself or at least go out and get a loaf of real bread rather than the Wonder Bread garbage that i often see.

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Expensive-Refuse855@reddit

It doesn't matter what bread you buses, imo.

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There's a definite difference between using supermarket's cheapest and a loaf of crusty bread. I wouldn't say there's much value to going for a super fancy loaf of bread, but I'd definitely go for a bloomer or cob over supermarket's cheapest.

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VirtualPancake_@reddit

Please stop using the world "banger". They are sausages. The term "banger" is only used in conjuction with "bangers and mash", and even then it's optional.

I feel like I've seen far too many posts from Americans lately referring to sausages this way.

But back to the topic, black pudding is an optional extra, it's generally hit or miss as to if restaurants/cafes will include it. If they do, they're usually happy to sub it for something else if you don't like it, and if they don't then you can usually add it for a cost.

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redseaaquamarine@reddit

I haven't gone through all the comments but has anyone said fried bread? Literally a slice of bread, oil in the frying pan, and fry it on both sides so it is crispy.

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Rebeccarebecca200@reddit

I prefer a rosti or potato cake to a hash brown but something potatoey & fried.

Eggs any way you like. Always on toast.

Tomatoes, I roast mine. Good with toast.

Baked beans. For me they overpower everything else so I get them in a ramekin & save it for more toast.

Bacon.

Sausages.

Mushrooms.

More toast.

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BoopingBurrito@reddit

Scottish people fry spam in a full Scotch breakfast.

No we don't...

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imtheorangeycenter@reddit

Black pudding but with DUCK EGGS.

Yeah, I'm in Surrey, baby.

And then I throw away the back pudding, but not because I do think it's Northern. It's just not my thing.

However I can eat infinite Cumberland sausages, which are - obviously - northern. In fact, I don't really like any other sausage anywhere near as much.

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Embarrassed_Belt9379@reddit

Jellied eels and mash

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

Unhelpful

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Embarrassed_Belt9379@reddit

Comes with liquor and a pie for the true ‘full’

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PassiveChemistry@reddit

The 1760s called - they'll take you back.

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68_namfloW@reddit

If black pudding isn’t a southern thing you need to leave.

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Laylelo@reddit

I’m a southerner and I love black pudding. Just like gravy. I don’t understand how they’re northern but if your mum doesn’t want it then leave it out. I’ve been told that bubble and squeak is a very London thing to include in your full English so I’d have that along with the bacon, sausage, eggs, beans, toast, tomatoes and mushrooms. I’d also suggest instead of toast to do fried bread.

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

I know my grandfather loves hashbrowns, is that commonly seen in an english breakfast? I’ve only had english breakfasts in a hotel in London and i fear they were americanized

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Opening-Fortune4@reddit

Fried potatoes or bubble and squeak were more common but everyone likes hashbrowns and they’re good from frozen so they’re very common now

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Long_Repair_8779@reddit

Hash browns are excellent, everybody loves them on a full English

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spacegirl2820@reddit

I can't stand them

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Mudeford_minis@reddit

Hash browns have crept into the English breakfast so a lot of people think they are part of a traditional English breakfast, but they never used to be.

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cuccir@reddit

Yes, they have become common now, although they are a mid to late twentieth century American import. But they are more common now than other traditional bread or potato parts of the breakfast, other than toast

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Gent415@reddit

They are AmericaniSed. But lazy places serve them because they are easier than fried bread, toast, bubble & squeak etc.

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stoodincrap@reddit

Yes, hash browns are definitely accepted in an English breakfast - your grandfather may prefer that to bubble and squeak

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formal-monopoly@reddit

Black pudding is an optional extra for those that like it. There's no alternative.

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Mudeford_minis@reddit

Haggis is the alternative if not the default in Scotland.

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PassiveChemistry@reddit

Aren't both usually present in Scotland?

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

Personally i’m a big fan of black pudding but judging by these comments it simply seems like my family doesn’t agree with me.

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Rags_75@reddit

Id like it but understand why some would not - I wouldnt go so far as to call it a northern thing though. Mind you I am half Lancastrian.

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TheClnl@reddit

Lived in London for a few years, biggest differences between menus in London greasy spoons and northern ones was bubble and squeak and the option to add chips

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rossburton@reddit

So I've discovered recently that one of my pet peeves is Americans calling sausages "bangers" all the time. "Bangers and mash" is sausages and mash potatoes, but that is basically the only time we'd say "banger".

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

Black pudding isn't terribly common in restaurant/pub/hotel full-English breakfasts throughout the UK. Occasionally you get it, but usually you don't.

In Spoons (for example), it's an optional extra.

I don't think it's particularly more common in the North.

For home-cooked, it's certainly much more common in the North - particularly Yorkshire.

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Sea-Hour-6063@reddit

Personal preference is poached egg, no fried bread (too greasy) a bean separator whether it’s in a ramekin or not if fine. Grilled tomatoes, button mushrooms shallow fried in butter. Sausages nice ones, crispy bacon so it’s still chewy (streaky) and hash browns. This will draw much ire from my compatriots. But this is how I like it. I’ve lived all over. Black pudding isn’t something I would bother with at home, but if it’s put in front of me I eat it.

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LisaandNeil@reddit

Sausage breakwater, classic Partridge. Well played.

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tiredoldfella@reddit

Bacon, fried egg, sausage, fried slice, black pudding, bubble and squeak, plum tomato, flat mushroom, bread and butter, mug of tea

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Tentin-enjoyer@reddit

An English Breakfast is not strictly consistent. You can treat the ingredients as sports team. You don't have to use each of them everytime, but the squad should be fully fledged and compliment eachother. You may, however, have a favourite team and lean towards that. Personally I like to include black pudding everytime, but it's not everybodies favourtie. Anyway here's my input

Star Players

-Sausages (2, maybe three)
-Back bacon (2 or three rashers)
-Halved or sliced tomatoes (fried) or Tinned tomatoes (cooked to temperature in a saucepan)
-Hashbrowns
-Chopped mushrooms or 1 portobello mushroom
-Fried egg/Scrambled eggs
-Baked beans in tomato sauce (usually one or two table spoons.
-Regular warm toast with a generous spread of butter to 'mop up the plate' afterwards (or fried toast instead, but personally I find this a bit too heavy since toast is the last thing you eat)
- HP Sauce

Drinks.

-English breakfast tea with a dash of milk and one teaspoon of sugar.
-Fresh Orange Juice

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Thebewildered_1@reddit

I’ve lived in the south my whole life and I consider black pudding an essential component in an English breakfast. Just promise me you’re not going to serve American sausage and bacon? It’s gotta be proper sausages and bacon.

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

I’m going so far as to go to a butcher shop and buy the cut for back bacon, and to make my own Lincolnshire bangers, i’m trying to make this as authentic as possible.

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Mudeford_minis@reddit

English bacon is thicker cut than the American bacon so bear that in mind if having it custom sliced.

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

I will certainly bear that in mind. Thank you for telling me as i was planning on slicing it myself

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achillea4@reddit

That's not authentic then. Nobody smokes their own bacon or makes their own sausage. Just go to a decent butchers or farmers market.

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Kind_Ad5566@reddit

That's dedication!

And British beans are different to US ones, you'll need to source those.

Hope your grandparents enjoy it.

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Thebewildered_1@reddit

You’re a fabulous human being. That breakfast is going to be amazing.

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KingKhram@reddit

Black pudding is a must and fried bread. Black pudding isn't a northern thing, it's an all over the country thing

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Mudeford_minis@reddit

Black pudding as we know it originated in Lancashire.

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Fickle_Pirate5617@reddit

For me (London) a proper brekkie is...

Eggs however you want them (fried). Back bacon or rashers Sausage Fried bread (this does not replace toast) Baked Beans Mushrooms Toast Strong tea

Other options: Black sausage Bubble and squeak Hash brown Fried tomatoes 🤢 (never liked them, but they are a fried brekkie food) I also very much like a Scottish Lorne Sausage.

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carlbandit@reddit

Black pudding is generally a personal preference. I live in the North but still don't like black pudding, while I'm sure there's lots in the South who do. It's an optional thing and you wouldn't need to replace it with something else. If you feel there would be too little food, throw in another sausage or bacon.

For beans, make sure you get some proper UK beans from a place that does UK imports. Branston beans would be preferable, but Heinz will do if that's all you can get.

For the breakfast: Sausage, Bacon, Egg (however you like them), hash brown, beans (UK import, not American), fried tomato, toast/fried bread (or both), black pudding (if you wanted to try it) & mushrooms. Personally, I don't like black pudding or mushrooms so I leave them off, but lots do like them and may instead not like the tomato for example.

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Common-Spend5000@reddit

Agree with broad concensus of others here. Bubble & Squeak would be the extra item not found in much of the country, but is very popular in London on a fried breakfast, especially with your grandparent's generation.

Check if they like beans first. The UK version is different to the US and may be hard to find, and also isn't always liked in Britain either. And because it spreads on the plate in a sauce it's not like it can just be taken off once put on.

You didn't mention white pudding or hogs pudding but they are not common in London if see them on a search.

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achillea4@reddit

Can your grandparents even cope with a full English? If they have heart or blood pressure issues or sensitive stomachs i wouldn't cook that or if I did, I'd do a healthier vegetarian option.

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Mudeford_minis@reddit

Oh behave yourself. Moral guidance wasn’t requested. We are all going to die and death by full English is one of the best ways to go. You and your veggie option.

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

They can do something like that every once in a while, they remain fairly active even still. We remain mindful of what they can handle.

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soldinio@reddit

Bubble n squeak. Classic veggie item for the area

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Caveman1214@reddit

English breakfasts are the worst of the fry ups. An Ulster fry is vastly superior to make 🏋️

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Mudeford_minis@reddit

Except ops grandparents are from London.

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pencloud@reddit

With white pudding, I hope?

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

Unhelpful

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Caveman1214@reddit

Just having craic, google is also available, alas.

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

Google wasn’t helpful i’m afraid. Also i must say the full breakfasts i had in Ireland were absolutely fantastic, my heart doesn’t agree but who cares.

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nomarmite@reddit

According to a food historian, bacon and eggs are the only essential components. The rest has changed over the years, and according to taste. There is no single 'authentic' recipe for a cooked breakfast, just as there is none for fruit cake or pizza.

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delpigeon@reddit

I don't honestly think there's any difference across England in terms of what goes into a 'full English', except that if you're using decent quality ingredients, then you'll likely get a proper version of whatever the best local sausage is. Black pudding is standard everywhere, so I don't know what your mum is on about. There are some minor regional additions / tweaks outside of England, mainly whether or not you add fried soda bread/potato farls.

Otherwise it's usually whatever combo you like the best out of back bacon, baked beans, sausages, black pudding, mushrooms (ideally herby), tomatoes (ideally big beef tomatoes cut in half and roasted with salt and pepper), toast, eggs (poached, scrambled or fried depending on preference) and hash browns. Ideally with HP sauce and ketchup. Some heathens even prefer smoky bacon to back bacon (although IMO they are wrong).

Maybe check in with your grandparents what their favourite cooked breakfast food is first. A full english is classic, but some people prefer smoked salmon or kippers, for example.

Also, based purely on my experience of eating the american versions of these things - if you can get 'proper' English type sausages (at the very least, not hot dog style/frankfurter style), bacon, baked beans and also some good non-sweet white bread, that will make a big difference. All those things I had some rather strange versions of in the US compared to what I'm used to.

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spoo4brains@reddit

While black pudding can be part of it, I don't think it is essential, and quite a lot of people don't like it.

I would say the core is bacon, sausage, beans, fried eggs and toast. On top of that fried tomato, fried mushrooms and black pudding are extras you add as you see fit.

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Common-Spend5000@reddit

Beans wouldn't be in the core, it's similar to black pudding, mushrooms etc. and more common in certain regions, but it is popular.

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spoo4brains@reddit

Have never had a full English without beans. The only variable is whether they are served on the plate or in a side dish.

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StockKick4984@reddit

Look for irish bars/restaurants.

I'm English but spend half my time in VA. Those closest I can get to a full English is a full Irish breakfast when I'm over in VA.

I just ask for normal toast instead of soda bread, and to add beans and mushrooms if they don't have any.

What I've discovered is the Irish places in reality do a mix between a Full English and Full Irish brekkie, rather than a truly traditional Full Irish.

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SheriffOfNothing@reddit

Try r/fryup

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Shnicketyshnick@reddit

Bubble and squeak.

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Optimuswolf@reddit

This is a genuine london addition. Can be lovely too. The Regency Café (of layer cake fame) does an excellent bubble.

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Gent415@reddit

Second this, but it's rare to find it these days. Too many places just go with the lazy option of hash browns 😔

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vipros42@reddit

Live in the south west, we love black pudding down here

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Watchkeys@reddit

I don't agree with your mum that black pudding is a northern thing. I'm originally from the north and moved to the south (including London for a while until I moved to the coast) and haven't really noticed any particular divide in regions and a 'full English'. It's an 'English', not a 'Northern English' or 'Southern English'. I think we'd have language for it if the divide existed!

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Optimuswolf@reddit

Northerners can get te fuck claiming black pudding. For one, northerners are all different - aint much in common between the cockneys of the north (mancs) and say the geordies.

For two the Midlands loves black pudding.

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Mudeford_minis@reddit

Black pudding has it’s origins in “t north” but it has spread widely and I’m going to guess that you great grandmother would be familiar with it from her younger days in the uk.

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Joshouken@reddit

Black pudding is ubiquitous

It’s also fair to say black pudding is only essential for a ‘full’ full English - if I were having one at home or a ‘small’ then I wouldn’t be miffed about not having black pudding

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Alternative-Bee2962@reddit

Bacon, sausages, fried eggs, black pudding, fried bread, hash browns, mushrooms and tomatoes or baked beans 😋

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StrictWasabi1@reddit

Don't forget the Brown Sauce

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Sensitive_Chip_2465@reddit

I grew up in Southern Sngland and lived there until I was 30. Then I moved to Northern England and have lived here for the last 30 years.

Modern full English breakfasts tend to include black pudding all over the country. But when I was living in Southern England (from mid-1960s to mid-1990s) black pudding was very much associated with Northern England, and you wouldn't tend to see it on an English breakfast in the Southern half of the country.

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g_junkin4200@reddit

Black pudding is said to be a northern thing cos it came from Bury. But it doesn't mean we don't eat it in the south.

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aaaaaaaaooooooo@reddit

I've seen black pudding on a menu in Cornwall, that is fairly south isn't it?

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Gent415@reddit

Black pudding is all over, but often as an "extra" these days as not everyone is keen.

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Flaky-Delivery-8460@reddit

Outrage. It should be hogs pudding down there.

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sbaldrick33@reddit

Possibly, but it's neither impossible nor remarkable to have a full Engkish with black pudding in the south.

I'm not sure it's "a London thing" to not have it, though, even if that is true. London catches a lot of flack from the provinces that, by rights, would be better directed at the home counties.

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lapsedPacifist5@reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/fryup/ is the place for inspiration.

Black pudding is possibly more common in the north and Scotland because they are 2 of the major manufacture areas. Had plenty of fry ups down south, London and other areas that include black pudding.

Make sure the beans are from somewhere that you can get UK food as American beans are very different, even Heinz.

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Ok-Pumpkin-6203@reddit

I would have black pudding and bubble if I was trying to make a special effort for someone.

If I am just cooking for me, I don't make Bubble.

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Proud_Ad_8915@reddit

Fried bread. I know people all over who love black pudding so not just a northern thing

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DB-DanCooper@reddit

Its just bangers n mash n a spot' o tea innit lovely jubbly mayte.

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NoNebula6@reddit (OP)

Unhelpful

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