Bread #2: Soda Bread

 

So. . . bread #2! I've mentioned this recipe before on my blog - Lorraine Pascale's Soda Bread. It's very quick to make (no faffing around and waiting for the dough to rise) and can all be made in an hour! So, if you're running low on time and want something that sounds impressive (but actually isn't all that impressive), make Lorraine's delicious soda bread!

The main ingredient that's different to normal bread is the buttermilk. This is the equivalent of the yeast and acts as the raising agent. It makes the whole bread making process a lot quicker! 

You also add a tablespoon of treacle to give it that dark colour (tip: If you dip the spoon in hot water - the treacle runs off more easily). In addition, this recipe uses a mixture of wholemeal and plain flour - none of that strong white bread flour stuff.

Recipe found below :D

Make a well in the flour + bicarbonate of soda + salt

Pour in melted butter, buttermilk and treacle

Knead that dough!

Kneaded!

Dust the wooden spoon with flour and make a cross shape

Crossed!

Sprinkle with flour and rolled oats

SODA BREAD RECIPE

370g Plain Flour

130g Wholemeal Flour

1tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp salt

40g butter

1 tbsp black treacle

300 - 340ml buttermilk (I find that one pot of 284ml (Sainsburys) works just fine too)

1) Preheat oven to 200oC

2) Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl - plain flour, wholemeal flour, bicarbonate of soda and the salt - and then make a well in the centre.

3) Melt the butter - pour in the well, along with the buttermilk and treacle. Stir with a wooden spoon to bring it together (if you don't mind the mess, just use your hands!).

4) Flour a clean work surface and knead the dough for a couple of minutes. It might be a bit sticky, but just keep at it until smooth.

5) Make a ball shape and place it on a lightly greased baking tray. Flatten slightly with your hands or a rolling pin.

6) To give it that proper soda bread look - get your wooden spoon (dust it with a bit of flour) and push it into the dough until you feel the baking tray through it (don't cut it in half though!!) - repeat this to make a cross shape.

7) Sprinkle with a bit of flour and a few oats and then bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until brown and risen. And bob's your uncle!!

Again, you'll have to wait for the final post

 to see it finished and out the oven!