Irish soda bread, a staple in Irish cuisine, is a quick bread traditionally made with just a few simple ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. It is known for its dense, crumbly texture and slightly tangy flavor. There are many variations of soda bread, including those made with added ingredients such as raisins, caraway seeds, or herbs. This article presents two recipes: a classic White Soda Bread and a savory Herb Soda Bread. Both recipes use buttermilk and baking soda as the leavening agents, resulting in a light and fluffy texture. The Herb Soda Bread incorporates a blend of fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, and chives, for a burst of flavor. Both breads are easy to make and perfect for enjoying as a snack, with meals, or toasted with butter and jam.
Let's cook with our recipes!
WHITE SODA BREAD OR SCONES WITH HERBS
Steps:
- Add fresh herbs to dry ingredients of white soda bread dough and proceed making dough as above. Shape into loaf or scones and bake as for soda bread. If making scones bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl sift together 1 pound flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Make a well in the center. Pour most of the milk into the well. Using one hand, mix in the flour from sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn the dough onto a well-floured counter. Wash and dry hands. Knead lightly for 1 second, just to tidy it up, flip over. Pat dough into a round about 11/2 inches deep and cut a cross into dough over the sides of the bread to let the fairies out. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees for another 30 minutes or until cooked. If in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread, it should sound hollow.
HERBED WHITE SODA BREAD
Provided by Food Network
Time 1h
Yield 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, make a well in the center and pour all of the buttermilk in at once. Using 1 hand, stir in a full circle starting in the center of the bowl working towards the outside of the bowl until all the flour is incorporated. The dough should be soft but not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, a matter of seconds, turn it out onto a well-floured board. WASH AND DRY YOUR HANDS. Roll dough around gently with floured hands for a second, just enough to tidy it up, flip the dough over. Pat the dough into a round about 1 1/2-inches deep. Sprinkle a little flour onto the center of a baking sheet and place the loaf on top of the flour. Cut a deep cross on it with a sharp knife, prick the four sections to let the fairies out. Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread to make sure of this.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until just cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread: if it is cooked it will sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack.
WHITE SODA BREAD AND SCONES
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl sift together 1 pound flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Make a well in the center. Pour most of the milk into the well. Using one hand, mix in the flour from sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn the dough onto a well-floured counter. Wash and dry hands. Knead lightly for 1 second, just to tidy it up, flip over. Pat dough into a round about 1 1/2 inches deep and cut a cross into dough over the sides of the bread to let the fairies out. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees for another 30 minutes or until cooked. If in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread, it should sound hollow.
HERB AND CHEESE SCONES
Steps:
- Make the White Soda Bread with Herbs dough. Stamp into scones, brush with egg wash and dip into grated cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl sift together 1 pound flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Make a well in the center. Pour most of the milk into the well. Using one hand, mix in the flour from sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn the dough onto a well-floured counter. Wash and dry hands. Knead lightly for 1 second, just to tidy it up, flip over. Pat dough into a round about 11/2 inches deep and cut a cross into dough over the sides of the bread to let the fairies out. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees for another 30 minutes or until cooked. If in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread, it should sound hollow.
- Add fresh herbs to dry ingredients of white soda bread dough and proceed making dough as above. Shape into loaf or scones and bake as for soda bread. If making scones bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven.
WHITE SODA BREAD
Steps:
- First fully preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Sift the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center. Pour all of the milk in at once. Using 1 hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a well floured board.
- Wash and dry your hands.
- Knead lightly for a second, just enough to tidy it up, flip over. Pat the dough into a round about 12 inches (2.5 centimeters) and cut a cross on it to let the fairies out! Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread to make sure of this. Bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread: if it is cooked it will sound hollow.
- Soda bread only takes 2 or 3 minutes to make and 20 to 30 minutes to bake. It is certainly another of my 'great convertibles'. We have had the greatest fun experimenting with different variations and uses. It's also great with olives, sun-dried tomatoes or caramelized onions added, so the possibilities are endless for the hitherto humble soda bread.
Tips:
- Use cold butter: This will help create a flaky texture in your scones.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing will make the scones tough.
- Use a light hand when shaping the scones: This will help them rise evenly.
- Bake the scones in a hot oven: This will help them rise quickly and develop a golden brown crust.
- Serve the scones warm with butter, jam, or cream.
Conclusion:
These white soda bread or scones with herbs are a delicious and easy-to-make treat. They are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a delicious and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy recipe, give these white soda bread or scones with herbs a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love