Irish soda bread is a classic bread that is served on St. Patrick's Day and all year round. It is a moist and dense bread with a slightly tangy flavor and a tender crumb. Irish soda bread is made with a mixture of all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, and butter. Some variations of the recipe also include raisins, caraway seeds, or oats. This article provides three different recipes for Irish soda bread: a traditional recipe, a vegan recipe, and a gluten-free recipe. Each recipe includes detailed instructions, as well as tips and tricks for ensuring a perfect loaf of soda bread.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
FOOLPROOF IRISH SODA BREAD
Hearty Irish soda bread is easy to make. It's welcome any time of year but is essential on St. Patrick's Day.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Bread Recipes
Yield Makes 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Mix milk and vinegar in a small bowl, and let stand until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Cut in unsalted butter with a pastry cutter or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add bran, caraway seeds, and raisins; stir to distribute.
- Pour milk mixture into flour mixture; stir until dough just holds together but is still sticky. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat and press the dough gently into a round, dome-shaped loaf, about 7 inches in diameter. Transfer to prepared sheet.
- Lightly dust top of loaf with flour. With a sharp knife, cut an X into the top, 3/4 inch deep. Bake, rotating halfway through, until loaf is golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Soda bread is best eaten the day it is made; serve with salted butter.
TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD
While soda bread with add-ins like currants and caraway can be delicious, it's not at all authentic. In Ireland, soda bread tends to be plainer and more restrained. Here is a classic recipe adapted from Darina Allen, an Irish television personality and the owner of the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry. This soda bread is is best eaten still steaming from the oven, slathered with good salted Irish butter that melts on contact with your slice. It's a fine accompaniment to corned beef and cabbage, should you be making that dish this St. Paddy's Day. Or make this recipe all year long. That's how they do it in Ireland.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories brunch, easy
Time 1h
Yield 1 loaf, 8 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking soda. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk. Using your hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be soft but not wet and sticky.
- Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface. Wash and dry your hands. Knead the dough lightly for a few seconds, then pat the dough into a round about 1 1/2 inches thick. Place it on a buttered baking sheet and using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross in the center of the dough reaching out all the way to the sides.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees, and continue to bake until the top is golden brown and the bottom of the bread sounds hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes longer. Serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 174, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 188 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams
AMAZINGLY EASY IRISH SODA BREAD
A good old fashioned soda bread with just the basic ingredients. Buttermilk gives this crusty loaf a good flavor. The best Irish soda bread around!
Provided by MP Welty
Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes Irish Soda Bread Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
- Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 171.6 calories, Carbohydrate 22.5 g, Cholesterol 16 mg, Fat 7.5 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 3.5 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 269.1 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients, especially the buttermilk. Sour buttermilk will give your soda bread a tangy flavor.
- Don't overwork the dough. Overworking will make the bread tough.
- Handle the dough gently. Rough handling will also make the bread tough.
- Score the top of the dough before baking. This will help the bread rise evenly.
- Bake the bread in a hot oven. A hot oven will give the bread a crispy crust and a light, fluffy interior.
- Let the bread cool slightly before slicing. Slicing the bread too soon will cause it to crumble.
Conclusion:
Irish soda bread is a delicious and easy-to-make bread that is perfect for any occasion. With its simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, this bread is a great choice for beginner bakers. Whether you're serving it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Irish soda bread is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a new bread recipe to try, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.
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