Knead to Please this St. Patrick’s Day

If you’ve been reluctant to make bread because you don’t want to mess around with yeast, then this recipe is for you!

 

Can bread with a chewy, craggy crust and a tender moist interior cost less a dollar? Yes! In short, this truly qualifies as frugal and fabulous.

 

Making soda bread is a proud tradition among the Irish

While we might make soda bread as part of our St. Patrick’s Day celebration, we should remember soda bread was the hearty sustenance of the working man created out of necessity.

 

Unlike most bread which is made with yeast, soda bread relies on baking soda, to leaven, or rise. The wheat grown in Ireland is very soft with low protein, similar to cake flour, and doesn’t rise well using yeast. But it’s perfect for making soda bread.

 

 

Here’s where the purists get annoyed

Contrary to what most Americans might think, there are no raisins in traditional soda bread as hard working Irish families couldn’t afford lots of sugar, butter and currants.

 

The raisin dotted bread we commonly think of as Irish Soda Bread is technically “Spotted Dog” a kind of sweet tea cake. But the moniker swap is understandable because spotted dog doesn’t sound very appetizing. 

 

There is actually an organization – “The Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread” that is very serious about defending this tradition. I have visions of an angry, Irish mob with pitch forks and torches trying to find Mt. Tabor on a map. So, I’d better get it right.  The real deal is simply delicious and very deserving of a spot on your table next to the corned beef and Guinness.

 

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD

 

Time: One hour Yield: One loaf or 4 to 6 servings

 

What You’ll Need:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1 ¾ cups (14 oz.) buttermilk or soured milk – see below

 

If you’re going to “sour” milk instead of using buttermilk mix 1 ¾ cups milk with 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice. Let this rest for 5 minutes. It should look slightly curdled. If it’s not, then add a bit more vinegar or lemon.

Here’s How:

1. First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Then, in a large bowl sift and combine the dry ingredients. Next, make a well in the middle and add buttermilk, mixing by hand or with a fork to form a sticky dough.  Place it on a floured surface and lightly knead, just enough to bring it together into a round. Resist the urge to over knead or the bread will be gummy.
2. Form a round flat shape and cut a cross in the top of the dough to bake more evenly (and let the faeries out).
3. You have choices on how to bake this. It can bake in an oiled but not pre-heated cast iron skillet, in a greased and floured round cake pan or on a greased baking sheet. In any event, they all work. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

 

Consequently, if you think you’ll be making a lot of Irish Soda Bread you might like to invest in a Lodge L8SK3 Cast Iron Skillet, Pre-Seasoned, 10.25-inch

 

When it’s done, the bottom of the bread will sound hollow when tapped.

 

I like to brush the crust with melted butter but that’s just me.  If I’m serving it as a sweet, I sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the butter.  So delicious!

 

 

Serve immediately

There’s nothing better than a slice of bread, still warm from the oven, slathered with butter and jam.

 

This is such an easy and enjoyable bread to make, especially with the kids around. Enjoying seeing that dough turn into a loaf of crusty bread. It’s so magical!

 

 

Erin go bragh!

You may also like: Meet Your New Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Sandwich      Practically Perfect Popovers Made goof-proof in a Muffin Tin 

 

Lodge L8SK3 Cast Iron Skillet, Pre-Seasoned, 10.25-inch