Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Traditional Irish soda bread has cross marking on top which indicates blessings of Lord and before baking 4 holes are poked in each corner of loaf to release fairies to prevent curse as per legend.

This is also one of the easiest breads to make as this does not contain yeast and if you are in a hurry to prepare the bread then this is the easy go-to recipe. The acid in buttermilk reacts with baking soda to provide the bread’s leavening. This leavening combo from buttermilk and baking soda is what gives the bread its name, “soda bread”.

This is healthy and delicious bread, add in raisins or currants etc for additional taste
Prep Time 15 mins; Cook Time 35 mins ; Total Time – 50 mins ; Serves 4 People

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp whole Wheat Flour
• 3/4 cup+2 tbsp All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 tbsp oats
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 2 tbsp cold Butter
• 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp Buttermilk

Steps to Cook

1. Add 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp each of whole wheat & all-purpose flours, 1/2 tsp each of baking soda and salt in a bowl. Mix well gently

   

2. Add 2 tbsp cold butter to this mixture, mix until crumbly

   

3. Whisk 1 egg and 3/4 cup buttermilk in a separate bowl

    

4. Reserve 2 tbsp of the buttermilk-egg mix for later use, set it aside

   

5. Add the rest of the buttermilk-egg mix to the flour mix, gently mix until it comes together , now dust hands with flour and knead to form rough dough, do not over-knead this dough

   

6. Place this dough on a flour-dusted surface, pat into a 4 cm thick round loaf             

   

7. Place the ready dough on a baking tray lined with greased parchment paper, slash to make a deep cross on top like this. Scoring the dough will help the heat reach the center of the loaf while baking.

   

8. Poke hole in the 4 corners of the dough with knife, this is meant to release the fairies as per old beliefs

   

9. Glaze top of the bread with the reserved buttermilk-egg mix

   

10. Sprinkle a handful of oats on top, bake in a preheated oven at 190 degrees for 15 mins

    

11. Now bake for 20-30 mins at a reduced temperature of 160 degrees until done. When done, the loaf will sound slightly hollow when tapped on the bottom
12. Allow to cool lightly , slice & serve this delicious bread. Since this bread dries up quickly, its best served warm and should be consumed within a day or 2