This is a traditional Irish Soda Bread. Soda Breads are the simplest breads to make. Only a few ingredients needs and most households have them in the cupboards. This is a recipe from Ballyvaugham,Co.Care Ireland. Traditional Soda Bread calls for Buttermilk or commonly known as Sour Milk in Europe.
You want to make sure you do not knead or handle the bread. I use a medium round mixing bowl to mix and then turn it upside down onto the Floured parchment paper lined baking sheet. Press it down to the 4cm thickness and then cut it, Place it in the oven right away cause the Soda starts working as soon as you add the buttermilk. You want the bread to continue to rise in the oven, therefore getting it in at the right time is essential for the bread. This is not a make ahead a cooking bread. It is consider a fast bread.
The faster you work with it after added the buttermilk and better it will turn out.
IRISH SODA BREAD
6 cups Flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Buttermilk
1. Preheat over to 400° F
once oven is heated( due to you need to gt the bread in the oven right away)
2. Put all the dry ingredients( Flour, Baking Soda, Salt) in a medium bowl, stir well.
3 .Make a well in the middle, add buttermilk in the Well, stir Vigorously til all flour is incorporated.
4. Turn out unto a baking sheet lined with Parchment paper add a little floured to the paper, flatten out into a circle about a 4 cm thick ( one and a half inch thick)
5. With a floured knife make a crisscross cut in the middle.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
