With this delicious soda bread recipe, you can always have the taste of Ireland. Thanks to BBC good food, this simple recipe can be enjoyed anytime. Irish soda bread pairs well with soups and stews.
History of Soda Bread
Interestingly, soda bread was not invented by the Irish, but by the native Americans. It was then adopted by the Irish during the potato famine as it calls for very little ingredients and is very simple to make.
Ingredients
- 250g plain white flour
- 250g plain wholemeal flour
- 100g porridge oats
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 25g butter, cut in pieces
- 500ml buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C and dust a baking sheet with flour.
- Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then rub in the butter. Pour in the buttermilk and mix it in quickly with a table knife, then bring the dough together very lightly with your fingertips (handle it very, very gently). Now shape it into a flat, round loaf measuring 20cm/8in in diameter.
- Put the loaf on the baking sheet and score a deep cross in the top. (Traditionally, this lets the fairies out, but it also helps the bread to cook through.) Bake for 30-35 minutes until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. If it isn’t ready after this time, turn it upside down on the baking sheet and bake for a few minutes more.
- Transfer to a wire rack, cover with a clean tea towel (this keeps the crust nice and soft) and leave to cool.
- To serve, break into quarters, then break or cut each quarter in half to make 8 wedges or slices – or simply slice across. Eat very fresh and enjoy!