Irish Soda Bread

I was feeling patriotic after watching 'The Gangs of New York' so I decided that this week I would make a traditional Irish soda bread! Only problem was I soon discovered you can't buy soda flour in Wales, but also found this recipe works well with strong wholegrain flour if you cannot obtain soda flour :)

• 500g Soda Bread Flour (or Wholegrain)
• 1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
• 30g Caster Sugar
• 425ml Butter milk
• Butter to grease a baking pan

1. Sift flour, bicarb and salt into a mixing bowl (re-add the bran from the flour that has been separated)
2. Pour in the buttermilk and using a palette knife of silicon spatula and mix together, then use your hands to bind mixture evenly - add more buttermilk if needed.
3. Grease a baking pan.
4. Roll dough into a ball, then throw onto baking pan to form a dome shape, then sprinkle with some rolled oats.
5. Bake at 190C for 30 mins, then reduce heat to 150C and bake for a further 30 mins until slightly risen, slightly browned with a firm crust.
6. Remove from the oven and wrap in a cloth to cool.

This bread goes really nicely buttered with a broth, with meant and pickles, as a breakfast or with a cooked breakfast :) And once again this freezes well if you have more than needed.

Next week I will show you how to make a traditional leek and potato soup that goes really well with this bread!

Thanks for stopping by
Siobhan xoxo