Irish soda bread recipe

Rating :

Here is Darina Allen's recipe for soda bread from her book 'Easy Entertaining'.

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 230º Centigrade/400º Fahrenheit /Gas Mark 9.
2. Sift all the dry ingredients into a large, wide bowl, and make a well in the centre. Pour in the milk. Using the fingers of one hand, stiff and oustretched like a claw, stir from the centre to the edge of the bowl in concentric circles. The dough should be softish, but not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn out on to a well-floured work surface.
3. Wash and dry your hands. Pat the dough into a tidy shape and flip over gently, then pat it into a round about 4cm (1 and 1/2 inches) thick. Gently transfer to a floured baking tray. Cut a deep cross into the loaf and prick the centre of each quarter to 'let the fairies out'.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 200ºC/370ºF/Gas Mark 6 and bake for a further 30 minutes or until cooked. If you are in doubt tap the bottom of the bread: it should sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack. Soda bread is best eaten on the day it is made.

Variation
For spotted dog, add 1 tablespoon sugar, 110g (4oz) sultanas and 1 free-range, organic egg to the above recipe. Reduce the buttermilk to 350ml (12fl oz).

From Darina Allen's Easy Entertaining – why not read our review.

greatfood.ie note
– When we made this recipe, we didn't add all the milk in one go, and in the end didn't need all of it.