Soda Bread
Happy St Patrick’s Day! Having shared a couple of Welsh recipes for St David’s Day earlier this month, it seemed only right that I share an Irish recipe for today. And what is a more iconic Irish bake than Soda Bread?
Similar to that of our Welsh Cakes and Bara Brith recipes, I was keen to seek the advice of some Irish friends before delving too deeply into the world of Soda Bread and claiming to be an expert in a field that isn’t my usual Scottish domain. Lucky for me, I have a good number of Irish friends.
Did you know that 90% of optometrists working in Scotland are from Ireland? Ok, that’s maybe not a fact (it might be!) but from my experience of working in optics for nearly a decade, I can honestly say that the overwhelming majority of optometrists that I worked with did grow up in Ireland. And they are the sole reason for me now overusing the word “grand”.
Despite not having worked with eyes in 5 years (!!) now, I still keep in contact with a good few of them, a couple of whom were more than happy to assist with my Soda Bread questions.
But first of all…what is Soda Bread?
Soda Bread is a yeast-free bread, made with just a few ingredients, with no need to knead; meaning it can be made and baked in as little as 40 minutes [total time].
Unlike yeast breads, soda bread relies on the reaction between the bicarbonate of soda and the acid in the buttermilk to give it its rise, as well as its familiar flavour.
In terms of texture, it is quite a dense bread and slightly chewy. It has a crunchy crust when freshly baked, but if stored in an air-tight container, or wrapped in cling film, it quickly softens. Soda bread is perhaps not a go-to for sandwiches, but it is perfect for toast or to accompany a bowl of soup. Or, of course, simply sliced thick and slathered in butter!
Now, in terms of my soda bread question for my Irish friends…
Raisins.
Or sultanas. Or any dried fruit additions for that matter. I consulted my go-to Ireland experts.
One, who is a bit of soda bread connoisseur, and who, despite living in Scotland for well over a decade, still has a loaf of Soda Bread sent over to her every month, was quick to say a prompt no to raisins.
The other, who is quite literally the most Irish person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, offered us some stellar advice…
“If in doubt, raisins out.“
So there you have it. Straight from two Irish optometrists. One from Northern Ireland, one from Ireland (if that makes any difference…?). Both are in agreement that Irish Soda Bread doesn’t have raisins in it. No judgement from me, a Scottish lass, should you wish to add a handful to yours, though. Potentially judgment from them, though. In fact, a definite judgment from one. That’s just who he is.
Ingredients:
Plain Flour
Although plain flour can be used in a pinch for our Easy Bread, generally a bread recipe would call for bread flour, or a “strong” flour. For soda bread, however, using a flour with a higher concentration of protein (ie, gluten) – such as a bread/strong flour – is a waste. A simple plain flour is all that is required! You can also use a wholemeal flour, or even a combination of wholemeal and white flour, should you so desire.
Bicarbonate of Soda
Being a yeast-free bread, soda bread relies on the reaction between the bicarbonate of soda and the acid in the buttermilk to create bubbles whilst baking, resulting in a lift and rise in the bread dough. It’s a fun bit of science, all within a humble loaf of bread!
The bicarbonate of soda is also where it, of course, gets its name from.
Salt
For flavour, of course. I recommend using sea salt, but you can experiment with different kinds of salt to get your perfect flavour. Hawkhead Whisky Smoked Salt, in particular, is to die for in Soda Bread – trust me!
Buttermilk
If we’re going for a traditional soda bread, it has to be buttermilk. Buttermilk already has its own acidity to it, so it reacts perfectly with the bicarbonate of soda – no additional ingredients required.
If, however, you can’t get hold of buttermilk, or you want the option to make it without, you can substitute with a standard milk (preferably whole-fat or soya, although others can be used too), and a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, to create the missing acidity. I would always recommend using slightly less milk in this instance, as buttermilk tends to be naturally thicker. See the recipe notes for more info.
Tips for Irish Soda Bread:
• Much like scones, Soda Bread needs a light touch. You don’t want to overwork your dough, or you risk knocking the air out of it before it’s had a chance to bake. The less you can handle it, the better – you want the dough to be just combined and no more.
• Some people assume that the cross cut into the top of your loaf has religious connotations, but that’s not the case – it’s simply to aid in the rising and baking of your bread. Without it, it would be too heavy to rise sufficiently and burn on the outside, whilst still being doughy in the middle. Using a sharp knife will give you the most uniform cross-cut.
• If possible, allow your bread to cool for 30 minutes before slicing. It can be tempting to tuck in straight away, but cutting too soon can risk the loaf collapsing and seeming doughy & under-baked.
INGREDIENTS
- 320 g Plain Flour (All-purpose Flour)
- 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda)
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 300 ml Buttermilk (see notes for alternative)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 200°c (190°c for fan-assisted ovens, Gas Mark 6 or 400°F). Line a baking sheet with a piece of greaseproof paper and set aside.
- Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the middle before pouring in the buttermilk.
- Gently stir together, being cautious not to mix too vigorously. Once the wet and dry ingredients have started to come together and you can no longer mix with a spoon/spatula, use your hand to form it into a soft, slightly sticky dough.
- Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and very gently knead it into a loose ball – try not to knead it more than 2-4 turns to do this.
- Gently lift the ball of dough onto your prepared baking sheet. Gently press to flatten a little, before cutting a cross over the top of your soda bread.
- Bake in your preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until golden brown.
- Allow your loaf to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Soda Bread will keep in a sealed container, or wrapped in cling film for a couple of days.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
All my recipes are developed using a digital scale and the metric system (grams and millilitres). Cup measurements are available as a conversion but these, unfortunately, won’t always be as accurate. For best results, I always recommend baking with a digital scale.
RECIPE NOTES:
- If you are unable to get buttermilk locally, or would prefer a dairy-free option: Simply switch out the buttermilk for 250ml of milk, mixed with 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar, or 1 tbsp lemon juice. Mix about 30 minutes before using to allow the milk to thicken ever-so slightly.
Free-from & Vegan:
Nut-free: There is no nuts in this recipe for Soda Bread but be sure to double check your individual ingredients for any hidden nuts.
Egg-free: There is no eggs used in this recipe but be sure to check your individual ingredients for any hidden egg.
Dairy-free: To make this Soda Bread dairy-free, use 250ml of your dairy-free milk of choice (in place of the buttermilk in the recipe), mixed with 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Prepare your milk mixture about 30 minutes before, which will allow your milk to thicken ever-so slightly.
Vegan: To make this a Vegan Soda Bread, use the dairy-free tip above.
N.B. Any advice or suggestions to make recipes “free-from” or vegan are purely that – suggestions. Please be careful to double-check all ingredients individually, taking extra caution when serving to those with allergies & intolerances.
For more info on common food allergies, please see food.gov.uk | For more info on coeliac disease, please see coeliac.org.uk | For more info on a vegan diet, please see vegansociety.com
Amazing. I used the milk and lemon juice option and the bread was perfect. I’m going to make my way through many more of your recipes, thank you Amy.
Wow!! First time making Soda Bread & how easy does it all come together and in super quick time too?!! No wonder it was a staple in hungry households.
My hubby is half Irish and having made an Irish Stew for St.Patricks day to honour his Dad, I made this to mop up the gravy…. The loaf lasted minutes if that lol!! Apparently, it’s so good according to hubby and daughter that I have to make it every time we have stew now. Thank you ☺️
Would I be able to make mini versions of this soda bread, I’m thinking bread roll sized to go with the irish stew I’m making at work for st. Patricks day!
Made the Soda bread several times now and it’s great, I am now looking for gluten free Soda bread and wonder if you have tried to adapt your recipe to make it gluten free.
I’ve been looking for a simple recipe as a newbie bread maker, deffo going to give this a try, despite Elizabeth’s stupid negative comment, some people must just have too much time on their hands!