When I’m looking for a hearty bread to go alongside a chicken stew or a slow roasted prime rib, I often turn to this simple yet satisfying Irish soda bread. It has the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors.
Irish Soda Bread Ingredients
To make Irish soda bread you will need flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, raisins, butter, buttermilk, an egg and cooking spray. Make this hearty bread to serve with favorites like braised cabbage, corned beef hash, an Irish mule or a shamrock shake.
How Do You Make Irish Soda Bread?
This Irish soda bread recipe starts with flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir these dry ingredients together with a spoon or whisk them in a large bowl. Add cubes of cold butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form. Next, stir in a healthy amount of raisins for a touch of sweetness. Finally, add buttermilk and egg and stir until a stiff dough forms. Shape the dough into a round, then set it into a pan or cast iron skillet. Score the top of the bread with a sharp knife, then bake it until it has a golden brown crust. Serve it with butter and jam or enjoy it with hearty soups or stews.
Tips For The Perfect Irish Soda Bread
If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own buttermilk substitution. Combine 2 cups of milk with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Let the milk sit for about 10 minutes or until the mixture looks curdled, then proceed with the recipe. The dough will be sticky and soft. Use flour on your hands and on your work surface as needed to keep the dough from sticking and to form a nicely shaped loaf. This traditional Irish soda bread recipe does not require any yeast. This recipe uses baking soda as a leavening agent.
Flavor Variations
Whole Wheat: For a whole wheat version of the bread, simply use half all purpose flour and half whole wheat flour. Citrus: For citrus version of the bread, try adding a tablespoon of grated lemon zest or orange zest. Savory: Try a savory soda bread by omitting the raisins and cutting the sugar to 3 tablespoons. You can even add a some chopped rosemary leaves or some caraway seeds. Honey: For a sweeter bread try adding a little honey. Currants: Another common alteration is to swap out the raisins for dried currants.
Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day or simply looking for an easy homemade bread recipe, this soda bread is sure to be a hit!
Irish Soda Bread Video
