Irish Soda Bread

 

This is a quick and simple yeast-free bread that doesn't need time to rise. Bake it plain, or experiment with sweet or savoury additions. You can also divide the dough into smaller lumps that will make delicious soda scones! 

 

You'll Need:

 

• 1 cup plain white flour

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

• 1 1/4 cups porridge oats

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 25g butter (basically a small knob), cut in pieces

• 500ml buttermilk

 

Optional:

• For a sweet loaf, try mixing in dried fruit (cranberries, chopped apricots), lemon zest, etc

• For a savoury loaf, try mixing in chopped chives, garlic, rosemary, etc

 

 

Let's go:

 

1. Preheat oven to 390°F.

2. Mix dry ingredients: flours, oats, salt, baking soda.

3. Rub in butter to create a breadcrumb consistency. Make sure not to touch the mixture for too long with your fingers, as the warmth will melt the butter.

4. Add buttermilk and gently mix with a wooden spoon or spatula.

5. Place dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and pat into a circular shape. Cut a deep cross or 'x' shape into the bread.

6. Bake 40 to 50 minutes.

 

 

Pro Tips:

• Scoring a cross shape into the top of the loaf before baking has religious significance, and makes it easy to tear the loaf apart by hand.

• The bread is ready when a knife poked into the centre of the loaf comes out clean, and tapping on the bottom of the loaf makes a hollow sound.

• Soda bread is best enjoyed hot out of the oven with some butter and a cuppa tea!