Amazing soda bread: 1 secret trick
This is a simple, traditional Irish soda bread recipe. You can mix this quick bread without yeast and have it ready for the oven fast. It makes a wonderful base for adding savory ingredients like cheese and herbs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 8 servings)
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Lightly flour a baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
- Pour in the buttermilk all at once.
- Mix quickly with a wooden spoon until just combined into a soft dough. Do not overmix.
- Turn the dough out onto the floured surface. Knead very lightly, just a few times, to bring it together into a round shape.
- Place the round loaf onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Cut a deep cross into the top of the loaf with a sharp knife.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For a softer crumb, use cold buttermilk.
- If you want a sweeter loaf, add 1 tablespoon of molasses or brown sugar to the dry ingredients.
- To make this savory, fold in 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs (like chives or parsley) right before shaping the dough.
- This bread is best eaten the day it is made.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: Approx. 200
- Sugar: Approx. 1g
- Sodium: Approx. 350mg
- Fat: Approx. 1g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: Trace
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 42g
- Fiber: Approx. 1g
- Protein: Approx. 6g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 5mg