Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread is probably one of my most favourite breads. Not only does it taste great but I honestly don't think there is a simpler or quicker way to make bread.

So why not give it a try?

Tried & Tasted Recipe:

• 250g plain white flour
• 250g wholemeal flour
• 100g porridge oats
• 1 ½ teaspoons bicarbonate soda (baking soda)
• 1 tsp salt
• 25g butter, cut into pieces
• 250 ml buttermilk *

Preheat oven to 200° C

Mix the dry ingredients together.
Rub in the butter with your fingertips.
Make a hole in the middle and add the buttermilk bit by bit. Mix it in with a palette knife or a spoon adding more milk if required.
Knead the dough for a minute or two; enough to just bring it together into a ball.
Put the loaf on a baking tray lightly dusted with flour or covered with parchment paper. Mark it with a deep cross (this lets the fairies out, or so the story goes...)

Bake for 30 minutes approximately, until brown and sounding hollow when tapped.
Take out of the oven and wrap in a tea towel until ready to eat. Don’t wait too long though because Irish Soda Bread is at its best when very fresh.
Delicious simply spread with butter (salted is best) and nothing goes better with smoked salmon.

*If you can’t find buttermilk, just heat the same amount of milk, to which you’ll then add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Let it cool down before using.