Round loaves of soda bread were traditionally baked on a heated griddle over the fire and had a lovely crisp crust. The bread is moist, close-textured and delicious, with a distinctive flavour which comes from the soda and buttermilk.
ingredients
makes 1 large loaf
450 g (1 lb) plain wholemeal flour
100 g (4 oz) plain flour
50 g (2 oz) rolled oats
5 ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda
5 ml (1 tsp) salt
about 450 ml (3/4 pint) buttermilk
method
1. Put the flours, oats, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a large bowl and mix together. Add enough buttermilk to mix to a soft dough.
2. Knead very lightly, then shape into a large round and place on a greased baking sheet. Cut a deep cross in the top. Bake at 230°C (450°F) mark 8 for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 200°C (400°F) mark 6 and bake for a further 20-25 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Eat while still warm.
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Flour, Salt, Soda and Buttermilk is all that goes into the mix.
By all means add oats if you want, there's no right or wrong about it with cooking and baking - make what you like and hang the rest!
The real deal though? No oats.
I love making soda bread - I've got 2 tubs of buttermilk in the fridge waiting to be turned into some right now.
Heck I might even try one with oats just for fun!
Try making it with wholegrain Spelt flour - it makes a really nice mid-brown coloured loaf (or sieve out the brown bits for a nice light white spelt-soda loaf). Dove's Farm make a nice one (organic too).