Irish soda bread is popular around St Patrick’s Day, yet it should be made all year round because it’s such a quick, easy and ridiculously impressive bread for so little work. It requires no yeast, no kneading and in less than an hour, you can have a gorgeous golden bake of utter deliciousness. In Ireland, the bread is often made with currants. I opted for a less sweetish bread, rather a more complex and sharper taste from the cheese and spring onion yielding a scrumptious savoury slice.
You don’t have to celebrate holidays to get obsessed with this. The inside is almost the texture of a scone with a softer crumb, all you need is a swift coating of salted butter and a sweet cup of tea.
How can I make it sweet?
In Ireland this bread is sometimes called ‘currant bread’. Often raisins or a mixture of golden raisins or dried cranberries are used. Basically you can use any fruit as long as you chop the fruit into small pieces.
Texture of the Bread
The texture of the bread is like a cross between a scone and a quick white bread. You could also use cake flour or a mixture of cake flour and bread flour. The cake flour will give you a lighter, softer crumb.
I baked the soda bread on a greased oven tray lined with greaseproof paper. You could also bake the bread in a cast iron pan which will create a crispy bottom.
Raising Agent
This bread requires no yeast nor kneading. Bicarbonate of Soda is used to help make the bread to rise.
What does Soda Bread taste like?
The bread itself has a mild flavour, similar to biscuits. There is a bit of tang because of the buttermilk. The fruit gives it a sweet taste. I played around with some ideas and decided for a savoury twist. I found the gouda cheese and spring onion, to deliver a sharp, yet delectable flavour to the bread. It was perfect for breakfast and anytime as a snack.
Eating Irish Bread
Soda bread is ideal served warm, straight out of the oven. It can also be toasted and served with butter.
IRISH SODA BREAD WITH CHEESE & SPRING ONION
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups white bread wheat flour I used the Eureka Mills brand
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 small bunch spring onions
- 130 grams gouda cheese
- 300 ml buttermilk or Amasi milk
- 1 tbs milk (for glazing) optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degree celcius Grease and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
- Sift flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl.
- Stir in the spring onions and cheese.
- Make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk.
- Mix together to bring a clean ball and shape into a round.
- Place dough onto baking tray, brush with milk (if using). Mark the dough with an X
- Bake for 35 minutes or until golden and crisp. The bread will sound hollow.
- Leave to cool, slice and serve as desired.
Notes
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