Soda bread

Some #sodabread to go with tonight's soup :) #quickbread

A photo posted by Lara Beans (@beanslala) on Oct 13, 2016 at 12:16pm PDT

This literally took 30 minutes to make from measuring the ingredients, to a golden loaf - yum! A completely different experience to what i'm used to baking, but really easy and wonderful!

Recipe for Soda bread

Soda bread

350g plain white flour
100g wholemeal stoneground flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon fine salt
About 400-450mls buttermilk (I used a mix of plain yoghurt, milk and a couple of teaspoons of white wine vinegar)

Before you start, preheat your oven to 180C.  This “bread” doesn’t take long and you want to get it in the oven as soon as you make it.

Prepare a large baking tray by flouring it lightly in the middle.

To make the bread, add all the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk together.  Make a well in the middle and pour about 2/3 of the liquid in.  

Hold the bowl with one hand, and use your other hand to gently bring the flour from the outside in, using your hands to sweep the flour into the liquid.  Add more liquid, you might not need it all.  You want it to be soft and somewhat sticky dough but not too wet.  

Once it’s sort of come together, tip out onto a floured surface and really lightly knead into shape.  The less you handle it, the better, you’re literally only just kneading it so it’s evenly mixed and shaped.  

Shape into a round loaf and place on the prepared baking tray.  Dip a knife into some flour and cut a deep cross into the loaf.

Place in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes, until golden, and sounds hollow when tapped. 

Perfect to serve with soup, or lashings of butter and homemade jam!

Enjoy!