Soda Bread
(from aloogobi’s recipe box)
Makes 2 loaves
Source: http://www.vegsoc.org/stpatricks/stpats6.html (from RecipeThing user reachesha)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Serves 4 people
Categories: Bread
Ingredients
- 450g/1lb wholewheat flour (soft or strong)
- 450g/1lb white flour
- 600ml/1pint buttermilk or plain yoghurt
- 5ml/1tsp salt
- 100g/4oz butter or margarine at room temperature, cut into small pieces
- 10ml/2tsp bicarbonate of soda
- a little extra milk if necessary
- extra butter for serving
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6
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Mix flours, salt and bicarbonate of soda together in a large bowl. Rub in the fat with your fingertips.
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Make a well in the centre and add the buttermilk or yoghurt and mix well. It should be a dry dough, but if too dry add 1-2tbsp of milk.
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Turn out onto the work top and knead for 2 minutes. You will be surprised how all the loose flour is incorporated into the dough! It should be dryish and crumbly but hold together (add a little more milk if necessary at this stage).
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Divide into two loaves, form into rounded shapes and place each on a greased baking sheet. Make eight deep cuts into the dough to form the farls (use a floured knife).
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Place in the oven making sure you leave enough head room for the bread to rise. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven then reduce the heat to 190C/375F/Gas 5 and continue baking for a further 25 minutes. The bread should rise quite a lot and the cuts open out.
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When cooked, remove from the oven and cool on wire trays.
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This bread can be frozen once cooked, otherwise it should be eaten on the same day as it has been made as it goes stale very quickly.