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Our favorite Irish soda bread recipe is a simple and tasty way to bring the flavors of Ireland into your home! Here you will find our favorite approach and variations for this delicious expression of Irish culture.
ThisIrish staple food uses bicarbonate of soda (also known as baking soda) for aleavening agent along with a catalyst, usually buttermilk. The soda and buttermilk take the place of yeast.
And the best Irish Soda Bread recipe doesnot have to be cooked in an oven either. For example it could be cookedin a bastible pot (like a Dutch oven).
If this makes you hungry for even more Irish food recipes, visit our main page on Irish food here.
Meanwhile, please enjoy our favorite Irish soda bread recipe!
Where Does Irish Soda Bread Come From?
Soda Bread probably did not actually originate in Ireland... The earliest it is mentioned is leavenedbread made with soda ash by the American Indians.
In1840, bicarbonateof soda for use in baking was introduced to Ireland. It appears thatsoda bread became a staple of the Irish diet between 1840 and 1845.
What Makes Soda Bread Famous?
Itis said that soda bread became so popular in Ireland, in part becauseit is well suited for the soft grains that flourished there.
Unlike theharder grains, soft grains do not do as well with yeast. This is becauseof the lower gluten content. Bicarbonate of Soda was cheap to buy too.It became a traditional staple for the Irish diet.
Why Carve a 'Cross' Into It?
Onetraditional technique, beforethe bread is cooked, is to carve the shape of a cross into the top. One reason is to help the bread heat evenly, although some believe ithasreligious meaning too.
When the bread is done, it breaks easily alongthe lines of the cross.
But the best thing about Irish soda bread is also the most obvious. It tastes terrific!
Here are some common recipes...
White Irish Soda Bread Recipe: Ingredients
- 4 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 14 oz buttermilk
White Irish Soda Bread Recipe: Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F
- Grease a round-shaped cake pan lightly and flour it.
- Ina big bowl, sift the dry ingredients together to mix them well.
- Addbuttermilk until you get dough that is still sticky.
- Turn out onto afloured board and slightly knead it (so that the gas does not totallyescape). Form bread dough into rounded shape to fit the round-shapedcake pan.
- On the top on the bread, make a cross-shaped cut.
- Make alid using another cake pan of the same size (remember this bread wascooked in pots with lids at one time).
- Cook the bread covered for 30minutes. Then take the lid off and cook 15 more minutes. Bread is donewhen hollow sounding when tapped on bottom.
- To keep the bread abit moist while cooling cover with a lightly dampened towel.
- Serve withsome butter and it is great with jelly or jam.
Brown Irish Soda Bread Recipe: Ingredients
- 1 cup of white flour the all-purpose type
- 3 cups of wheat flour or whole-meal flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 14 ounces of buttermilk
Brown Irish Soda Bread: Preparation
- Preheat an oven to the temperature of 425 degrees F.
- Grease a cake pan lightly and flour it.
- Ina large mixing bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.
- Slowly mix inthe buttermilk until the dough is sticky.
- Very lightly knead on asurface that is floured (be careful here not to let too much of the gasget out).
- Shape the dough to fit into the round-shaped cake panmake a cut in the shape of a cross across the top of it.
- Take anotherpan and use as a lid this takes the place of the bastible pottraditionally used; bake this for about 30 minutes.
- Take off the lid andbake 15 more minutes.
- Tap on the bottom of this bread and if itmakes a hollow sound, it is done.
- Take a clean towel and cover it andlightly dampen. This helps the bread stay moist as it cools.
- Serve withbutter. This Irish soda bread recipe is hearty enough to go with soupor stew.
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