Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Traditional Irish Brown Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups (12 oz) of wheat flour, (Soft wheat, if you can find it. i.e. Pastry Flour, not Bread or Self-Rising)

• 1 cup (4 oz) of white flour (do not use self-rising as it already contains baking powder and salt)

• 14 ounces of buttermilk (pour in a bit at a time until the dough is moist), add a little more, if necessary

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda.

Instructions

If you have a "Bastible" (Dutch Oven), use that. If not, the two cake pan method simulates it. Ovens vary, so you will have to find its sweet spot for bread.

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. (220 C) degrees. Lightly grease and flour a cake pan.

2. In a large bowl sieve and combine all the dry ingredients.

3. Add the buttermilk to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead (too much allows the gas to escape)

4. Shape into a round flat shape in a round cake pan and cut a cross in the top of the dough.

5. Cover the cake pan with another pan and bake for 30 minutes (this simulates the Bastible pot). Remove the top pan and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

6. The bottom of the bread will have a hollow sound when tapped to show it is done.

7. Cover the bread in a tea towel and lightly sprinkle water on the cloth to soften the crust.

For best results, use fresh buttermilk and soft wheat flour. Do not knead the dough — overworking it makes the bread tough.

When you change the basic Soda Bread recipe, the Name changes. It's no longer "Soda Bread"

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