So Simple Soda Bread Recipe

I’m not a very confident baker when it comes to bread, give me a loaf cake or cookie recipe and I’m more than happy to get stuck in! Though I can’t deny that there are few things more satisfying than the smell and taste of a fresh baked loaf.

My husband is the bread baker in our house. I love it when he makes pizza from scratch and yummy breakfast rolls. His go to recipe book is Paul Hollywood’s How to Bake . Every recipe that we have tried in there has come out perfectly and the instructions are so easy to follow. I have made his scones recipe many times and have neve had any complaints!

With that in mind, I decided to have a go at his recipe for soda bread. No yeast, no proving needed, very little kneading required and will bake in 30-40 minutes? Sounds perfect!

Ingredients:

• 500g plain flour (I used extra strong flour) – with extra for flouring and dusting
• 400ml buttermilk
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp salt

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 200c/gas mark 6.
• Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
• Mix together all of the  dry ingredients in a large bowl and then stir in the buttermilk.
• Combine until a sticky dough is formed.
• Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form the dough into a ball. Flatten the ball slightly with your hand.
• Move the dough to the baking tray. Cut a cross into the dough with a knife, quite deep but not all the way to the base and lightly sprinkle with more flour.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden. The bread will be baked when it makes a hollow sound when you tap the bottom of the loaf (be careful not to burn yourself while checking of course!)

 

And that’s it! Leave the loaf to cool, which will be difficult as it smells so good when it comes out of the oven. Enjoy with butter and jam, cheese, ham or chutney. Its a perfect bread for a picnic and its best enjoyed on the day of baking or can be toasted the day after.

Happy baking!

Nicola x

 

 

(Please note: this post contains affiliate links to products that I have bought myself)