Irish Soda Bread
If you have been struggling with sourdough and want a fool proof way to make a delicious home baked loaf, look no further than Irish Soda Bread. This yeast free bread is really simple to make and tastes incredible. Easy to mix and with no need to wait for it to rise, this is a great loaf to start with for someone who is new to baking. It is ready to eat straight out of the oven and goes amazingly slathered with some salty butter, it is truly heaven in a slice.
Ingredients
300g Whole Wheat Flour
100g Strong White Bread Flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
5g table salt
250g Buttermilk
60ml luke warm water
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Serves: Makes 1 loaf
Instructions
Pre heat a fan oven to 180c (200c if it is not a fan oven)
Place the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix it with your fingers
Make a well in the middle and add the buttermilk and water
Bring the mixture together with a fork until it gets difficult to mix
Tip out on to a clean counter and knead slightly until it all comes together. No need to knead like you would regular bread, you just want to get the mixture evenly together
If it is very wet and sticking to the surface you can add a little more strong white bread flour and mix it through (bear in mind that it should be a slightly wetter mix than a yeast based bread)
Form the loaf into a round shape and place on a baking tray which has been dusted with flour
Cut a cross into the top of the flour with a sharp knife, cutting about half way through
Place the bread in the oven and cook for 35 minutes
Remove from the oven and turn it over, tap it on the bottom and if it has a hollow sound it is done, if it doesn't have a hollow sound return to the oven and cook for another 5 minutes, or until it has a hollow sound when tapped
Allow to cool on a rack and then it is ready to eat
