Scrumptious Soda Bread Recipe
If there was ever a staple of traditional Irish cuisine, and a must-have on the breakfast table, it’s soda bread.
Always made with care, soda bread is a classic Irish favorite.
Be it the star of an Ulster fry (in farl form), or just eaten straight with butter or jam, it’s a favourite most Irish folk would recognize. It can come straight and thin, or heavy with nuts or raisins. But whatever your tastes, there’s a soda bread recipe out there for you. And everyone’s mum has a different one…
Our recipe today comes from Kevin Dundon, chef and all-round culinary whiz. Kevin is the current chef of the Wexford’s Dunbrody Cooking School, and was more than happy to let us borrow his recipe.
And we’re pretty sure you’ll be more than happy to eat it.
Soda Bread
Makes one loaf.
Ingredients:
- 450 g (1 lb.) plain flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 1 tsp salt
- About 400 ml (14 fl oz.) buttermilk (though Kevin says sour milk with lemon juice will do in a pinch!)
Method
-
First Truth of Cooking: It's just as much fun to bake as it is to eat!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the centre.
- Pour all of the buttermilk in. Using a large spoon, gently and quickly stir the liquid into the flour. It should be soft but not sticky.
- Place in a 2 lb, non-stick loaf tin and bake for 45 minutes until the loaf sounds hollow when turned out of the tin and tapped.
- Place on a wire rack to cool.
What pairs great with soda bread? Irish Stew, for one! We also cooked up some yummy Guinness Bread – feel free to place it next to soda bread in your recipe box. And you can check out other recipes from Kevin Dundon on his website.
Is there a Health rating for the bead (CARBs, etc.)? As a diabetic, this would be VERY helpful. THANX!
Four of us will be in Ireland together the first week of April. My 3 travel mates have all been before but it will be my first time. We are having a pre-trip get together next weekend and I plan on making a number of dishes familiar to the area of Northwest Ireland. Any suggestions? I was going to write a pre-trip post about our evening on my blog http://www.foodmusings.ca.
I have always wanted to try soda bread & now I shall! tm
No kneading? or round shape with a cut cross on top? No wholewheat?…..and a low oven???? for BREAD!!!! ???? Breads need 425 degrees…..or more….
BUT…..I WILL TRY IT….. On the other hand, to be quite fair…Wholewheat flour like what we have in Ireland…is NOT available here in Canada…..The wholewheat flour here in Canada is ground into a fine powder…Rough, coarsely ground wheat flour, is available in Boston I believe……So….MAYBE that’s why you chose to give the white soda bread recipe….
However……after all my criticism….Full marks to you….for even giving us your recipe….I appreciate it…J. Braganza Toronto
Hi Kathryne
Thanks for your note! That’s great to hear that you’re visiting Ireland this April! It’s a great time of year to visit.
There are some delicious recipes available on our blog that are popular throughout the island – including the North West – two of my favourites are the Soda Bread and also Irish Stew (they also go great together!).
Happy Cooking!
Jennifer
Happy Baking Marie! Thanks for your note.
Thanks for your note! This is a special Irish bread – one of my favourites! It’s quite dense compared to breads here in Canada but the flavour is really rich (and is great with just a bit of butter when it’s fresh out of the oven!). For different types of flours I would go to a health food store or even try a farmers’ market for something a little less refined than what you’d find at the grocery store. It would even be interesting to try the recipe using Red Fife flour to create a Canadian twist! Happy bread making!
Jennifer
Hi Dave
Unfortunately no, this information is not available.
Jennifer
this is what we called oven soda bread …my mother used a griddle named soda farls you can also use white plain flour .
Hi Joan – thanks for your note! Always good to know alternatives for these delicious recipes! Happy Baking. Jennifer