Soda Bread Traditional and with a Twist
Soda Bread
Preheat oven to 230°C: 450°F: Gas8
Ingredients:
450g plain flour
300-400ml buttermilk
½teaspoon bread soda
Method:
Switch on oven to preheat.
Sieve flour and brad soda together. Make a well add 300ml milk.Using one hand, stir with outstretched fingers from the centre to the side of the bowl. Make into a soft dough. More milk maybe required but add slowly. Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead very lightly. Shape into a round 3-4cm deep. Place on a floured tray. Cut a deep cross into the top of the dough.
Bake near the top of the oven for about 30 minutes.
Check if baked by tapping underneath the bread and hearing a hollow sound.
Enjoy.
My Soda Bread
Ingredients:
400g plain flour
½teaspoon bread soda
½teaspoon salt
250-300ml cashew milk
Floured baking tray/sheet or use parchment paper on your tray
Method
Preheat the oven to 230°C: 450°F: Gas8
Sift flour, salt, and bread soda into bowl.
Pour 200ml of milk into the bowl and gradually combine with the flour using a wooden spoon. Keep adding milk GRADUALLY until you have a soft dough.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and lightly form into a round. Place the rounded dough onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Score a cross on the top of the dough.
(Traditionally this allows the fairies to help your bread to be light!!!).
Place near the top of the oven for thirty minutes.
The bread will be baked when it is light brown in colour and when tapped on the underside it sounds hollow.
Cool on a wire rack / cooling rack.
Below are a few alternatives to the plain Soda Bread. The method is the same for all the soda breads.
Brown Soda Bread
300g wholemeal flour
100g plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon bread soda
250ml milk
Here are some suggestions to turn the basic soda bread into savoury soda bread.
1) 2 rashers rind removed, cubed, and cooked and cooled, plus
25g grated strong cheese
or
2) ½ teaspoon thyme and /or parsley
or
3) ½ teaspoon oregano or basil, a pinch of fennel seeds plus ¼ teaspoon of rosemary
or
4) ½ teaspoon nigella seeds
Fruit Soda Bread
400g plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon bread soda
50g sugar granulated/castor/golden castor sugar/honey
100g sultanas, raisins or currants.
or 100g cherries washed then rolled in plain flour.
or 100g chopped apple rolled in ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
250 ml milk