Are you seeking a hearty, comforting bread that is brimming with nutty flavor and has a dense, chewy texture? If yes, then look no further than Irish brown soda bread. This classic bread holds a special place in Irish cuisine, often gracing tables during traditional gatherings and holidays. It's simplicity, requiring just a handful of ingredients, makes it an approachable bake for home cooks of all skill levels. The addition of buttermilk and molasses lends a distinctive tanginess and a beautiful golden-brown hue to the bread. This article presents three enticing recipes that showcase the versatility of brown soda bread. Embark on a culinary journey with us, and discover the joy of baking this beloved Irish staple.
Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!
BROWN SODA BREAD WITH OATS
For years I've been trying to make a moist soda bread loaf like the kind I love to eat when I'm in Ireland. Finally I've achieved it with this recipe, which is adapted from Bon Appétit's recipe for Fallon & Byrne Soda Bread (Fallon & Byrne is a restaurant in Dublin). The bread is a whole-wheat loaf with both rolled and steel-cut (pinhead) oats, and does not have the hard crust that round soda breads can have. One reason is that the moist dough is baked at a lower temperature than free-form soda bread.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories breakfast, brunch, dinner, lunch, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 1 loaf, about 12 slices
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch bread pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together flours, steel-cut oats, rolled oats, brown sugar, salt and sifted baking soda. Mix well with your hands.
- Make a well in the center of flour mixture. Pour in buttermilk. Working from the center of the bowl in concentric clockwise circles, with fingers outstretched, stir buttermilk into flour mixture. (You can use a rubber spatula instead if you don't like getting dough on your hands.) This should take about a half a minute at most. Dough will be quite moist. Use a rubber spatula to scrape into bread pan and smooth out the dough to fill pan evenly ( the pan will be filled only about halfway.)
- Place in the oven and bake 40 minutes, until dark brown and a tester inserted comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on a rack.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 182, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 33 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 549 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
IRISH BROWN SODA BREAD
This Irish Brown Soda Bread recipe comes to us from Ellen Clarke, one of our merchandising product managers. She got the recipe from her grandmother, Mary Morrisroe. You can replace the sugar with honey if desired. The bread is delicious served with butter and jam.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Bread Recipes
Time 50m
Yield Makes two 9-by-5-inch loaves
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans then dust with flour, tapping out excess. Sprinkle bottom of pans with 1 1/2 tablespoons oats.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, bran flakes, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together sour cream, sugar, oil, and eggs. Fold sour cream mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Top each loaf with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oats, dot with butter, and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely in the pans.
TRADITIONAL IRISH BROWN SODA BREAD
Unlike many of the recipes here, none of the soda bread that I have ever eaten in Ireland was sweet or contained sugar, so here is a recipe for a traditional soda bread from Keith Floyd. This is great with Irish Stew but also a handy recipe to have in reserve for the times that you run out of bread and can't face going to the shops. Do feel free to substiute buttermilk for the sour milk in this recipe.
Provided by Kate in Katoomba
Categories Quick Breads
Time 35m
Yield 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Mix the dry ingredients very well.
- Moisten with the sour milk to form a soft dough.
- Knead lightly.
- Form into a round, mark with a cross, place on a tin and bake for 30-45 minutes in the oven at 220°C.
REAL IRISH BROWN SODA BREAD LOAF
There are so many Irish soda bread recipes on the internet, many of them American not Irish at all. This is the standard loaf brown soda bread used all over Ireland. It is to us what the Tollhouse Chocolate Chip cookie recipe is to Americans! It's on the back of our national flour brand, Odlums. Think King Arthur. You can't go wrong with this recipe.
Provided by GrumpyIrishLady
Categories Quick Breads
Time 1h10m
Yield 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place wholemeal in a large mixing bowl.
- Sieve in Cream flour, salt, soda and sugar (if used).
- Add buttermilk and oil.
- Mix well.
- Transfer to a well greased 2lb loaf tin.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C, 325°F, Gas 3 for approximately 1 hour.
- Bread will be baked if base sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool on a wire tray. For a soft crust, wrap bread in a clean tea towel.
- Variations for bread In preparation, after adding the buttermilk and oil, add 50g/2oz chopped walnuts and 50g/2oz chopped dried apricots; When adding buttermilk and oil, add 1 tablespoon of treacle; Add 50g/2oz of grated cheddar cheese to the dry ingredients.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 2052.9, Fat 25.4, SaturatedFat 5.8, Cholesterol 20.4, Sodium 2975.4, Carbohydrate 390.9, Fiber 39.5, Sugar 26.2, Protein 77.2
BROWN IRISH SODA BREAD
Make and share this Brown Irish Soda Bread recipe from Food.com.
Provided by mrose75
Categories Breads
Time 55m
Yield 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 t. salt.
- Cut in butter.
- Combine 1 egg and buttermilk and add to flour mixture; stir till just moistened.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead gently for 12 strokes.
- On a greased baking sheet, shape dough into a 6-in. round loaf.
- Cut a 4-in. cross, 1/4-in. deep, on the top.
- Brush with one beaten egg.
- Bake for 35 minute in a 375 degree oven.
- Cool on rack.
BROWN SODA BREAD LOAF WITH CARAWAY SEEDS AND RYE
Some regional variations on Irish soda bread, from Donegal and Leitrim, call for caraway seeds. I love caraway seeds in bread, but in my personal food memory bank they will always be paired with rye. So I decided to add a little rye flour to this already dark brown, grainy and moist bread.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories breakfast, brunch, dinner, lunch, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 1 loaf, about 12 slices
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch bread pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together flours, steel-cut oats, rolled oats, brown sugar, salt, caraway seeds and sifted baking soda. Mix well with your hands.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in the buttermilk. Working from the center of the bowl in concentric clockwise circles, with fingers outstretched stir buttermilk into flour mixture. (You can use a rubber spatula instead if you don't like getting dough on your hands.) This should take about a half a minute at most. Dough will be quite moist. Use a rubber spatula to scrape into bread pan and smooth out dough to fill the pan evenly (pan will be filled only about halfway.)
- Place in oven and bake 40 minutes, until dark brown and a tester inserted comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on a rack.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 183, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 549 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
BROWN OATMEAL SODA BREAD
Categories Bread Milk/Cream Bake Kid-Friendly St. Patrick's Day Oat Gourmet Small Plates
Yield Makes two 7-inch loaves
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Into a large bowl sift together 2 1/4 cups of the all-purpose flour, the baking soda, the baking powder, and the salt and stir in the whole-wheat flour and 1 cup of the oats. Add the buttermilk and the egg and stir the mixture until it forms a dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it, kneading in as much of the remaining 1/4 cup all-purpose flour as necessary, until it forms a manageable but sticky dough. Halve the dough, form the halves into round loaves, and put them on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle the loaves lightly with the additional oats, dust them with flour, and bake them in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until they are browned lightly. Let the loaves cool on a rack.
TRADITIONAL BROWN IRISH SODA BREAD
"Odlums Flours" are a national brand in Ireland and for generations the recipes found on their packaging have been enjoyed. My Mother always made bread from an Odlums recipe and I have kept it the same....hope you enjoy. It goes great with stews and soups. I also like to serve it with smoked salmon, a combination you are bound to enjoy.
Provided by Debi and Johnny
Categories Breads
Time 50m
Yield 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Sieve the Salt, Bread Soda and All purpose flour into a bowl. Mix in the Wholewheat flour and wheatgerm. Add enough milk to make a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until the mixture comes together. Place on a floured baking sheet forming into a round loaf (approx 10" diameter).
- Place into a preheated oven (central position) and bake at 375 to 400 F for 40 to 45 minutes. When baked the bread will sound hollow when you tap it on the bottom. Cool on a baking rack or wrap in a dry tea towel to give a softer crust.
- Enjoy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1940, Fat 16.2, SaturatedFat 4.8, Cholesterol 20.7, Sodium 2976.1, Carbohydrate 387, Fiber 43.9, Sugar 26.6, Protein 81.1
BROWN SODA BREAD
Categories Bread Breakfast Brunch Bake St. Patrick's Day Sugar Conscious Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher Diabetes-Friendly
Yield Makes 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas 7. Dust selected tin generously with flour (we always used a Swiss roll tin for this bread).
- 2. Sieve the plain flour, salt and soda into a large mixing bowl. Add the wholemeal flour and mix well, lifting the dry ingredients just above the bowl's rim in order to circulate air and produce a lighter bread.
- 3. Beat the egg in a small bowl and beat in the buttermilk. Make a well in the dry ingredients, add the liquid and mix to a soft dough with a wooden spoon or by hand.
- 4. Bring dough together with flour-dusted fingers and turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly into the smooth desired shape. If the dough is sticky, dust over a little more flour and knead it in to make it more manageable. Transfer to prepared tin, dust with wholemeal and cut a cross on top with a sharp knife to allow to rise evenly.
- 5. Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes. Remove from tin and tap the base of the bread. If it sounds hollow it us cooked, if not return to the oven for a few more minutes. Cool on a wire rack before serving with country butter and home-made jam for the full experience.
IRISH BROWN SODA BREAD
This is the real thing! Because it must only be handled very lightly, it can never be made in a bread machine.
Provided by Andrea Doyle
Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly grease two baking sheets.
- In a large bowl, stir together whole wheat flour, white flour, rolled oats, baking soda and salt. Gently mix in the buttermilk until a soft dough is formed. Knead very lightly. Divide dough into 4 pieces; form into rounded flat loaves. Mark each loaf with an 'X' and place on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 to 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 164.5 calories, Carbohydrate 33 g, Cholesterol 2 mg, Fat 1.3 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 7.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 354.4 mg, Sugar 2.6 g
BROWN BUTTER SODA BREAD
Categories Bread Milk/Cream Herb Breakfast Brunch Bake Oat Winter Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 2 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Stir butter in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stir flour, oats, sugar, rosemary, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl to blend. Pour buttermilk and melted browned butter over flour mixture; stir with fork until flour mixture is moistened.
- Turn dough out onto floured work surface. Knead gently until dough comes together, about 7 turns. Divide in half. Shape each half into ball; flatten each into 6-inch round. Place rounds on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 5 inches apart. Brush tops with beaten egg white. Sprinkle lightly with ground black pepper. Using small sharp knife, cut 1/2-inch-deep X in top of each dough round.
- Bake breads until deep golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool breads on rack at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Baker's Wisdom:
- You'll get the most tender soda bread by kneading the dough gently and briefly, just until it comes together, so the gluten is minimally developed.
Tips:
- Use the freshest ingredients possible. This will ensure that your soda bread has the best flavor and texture.
- Don't overmix the dough. Overmixing will result in a tough, dense loaf of bread. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Let the dough rest before baking. This will allow the gluten to relax and will result in a lighter, more tender loaf of bread.
- Bake the bread in a hot oven. This will create a crispy crust and a fluffy interior.
- Let the bread cool completely before slicing and serving. This will help to prevent the bread from crumbling.
Conclusion:
Brown soda bread is a delicious and easy-to-make bread that is perfect for any occasion. With its slightly sweet and nutty flavor, it is a great choice for sandwiches, toast, or simply eating on its own. Whether you are a novice baker or an experienced one, you are sure to enjoy this classic Irish bread.
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