Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Servings

8

servings
Total time

1

hour 

30

minutes

Irish Soda Bread is a quick bread, ready in a snap. It has all the deliciousness of yeasted breads, without yeast, kneading or rising time. Perfect for brunch. We make my Irish soda bread with spelt flour, our favourite flour for everything: low gluten, high fibre, high protein, great flavour!

Dairy please. No substitutions here; it won’t be nearly as good.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 stick unsalted butter, divided in three

  • 3 cups flour (all-purpose, whole wheat pastry, or spelt)

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1 3/4 cups buttermilk, low-fat OK…

  • …1 3/4 cups plain yogurt, low-fat OK

  • 2 eggs, beaten

  • 2 tablespoons caraway seeds

  • 1 cup currants…

  • …or 1 cup raisins

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Grease a 25cm skillet with a third of the butter.
  • Using two knives or a pastry cutter, work 1/3 of the butter, the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar, until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
  • Mix the buttermilk and eggs well in a bowl.
  • Add the caraway seeds and raisins and combine again.
  • Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, mixing only until combined.
  • Pour the batter into the skillet.
  • Cut the remaining butter into tiny pieces and drop evenly over the bread.
  • With a sharp knife, make 2 perpendicular gashes over the bread, like an X.
  • Bake for about 1 hour, until the top looks golden and firm.
  • Eat preferably warm.

Notes

  • Variations: Be generous with the veggies you are including and make a short and sweet selection.

    – Add some freshly grated parmesan or diced feta cheese (in this case do not add any salt in the recipe)

    – Sauté other vegetables, about 2 cups: diced zucchini, sliced mushrooms, diced tomatoes, cut-up asparagus, diced red pepper, grated carrots, etc.

    – Add about 2 cups diced cooked potatoes, frozen corn, small frozen or fresh cauliflower or broccoli florets, diced frozen artichoke hearts, diced cooked or smoked chicken, or diced cooked fish.

    – Use other seasonings: thyme, rosemary, tarragon, etc

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