Irish Soda Bread

Saturday 31 January 2015



Irish Soda Bread - I made that!


So easy even I can do it and I don't bake. 

Saturday mornings are usually spent dressed like a human duvet having a natter with some other mums whilst watching Small Thing do his football training. Today? It was cancelled and I made Irish soda bread. Yes I really did! Last week the Grumps had it in his head that he wanted to make it and I was despatched with a shopping list of the required ingredients. He made it, it was good and I declared him a keeper on Instagram. This week, I bought the buttermilk for him to make the soda bread again but I felt that maybe I should give it a shot as the Grumps was standing outside for a couple of hours with the big boy in the coldest of weather. So I did and that's my loaf up there ready to have with some homemade soup!

And if I can do it - you can (my previous attempt at banana loaf went in the bin - a baker I am not). The recipe I googled off BBC Goodfood by James Martin but here it is for your delectation. 


Ingredients 
  • 170g / 6oz self-raising wholemeal (I used normal white) flour
  • 170g / 6oz plain flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 290ml / ½ pint buttermilk

Preparation Method
  • Preheat the oven to 400F/200C/Gas Mark 6
  • Tip the flours, salt and bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl and stir.
  • Make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk, mixing quickly with a large fork to form a soft dough (you may need to add a touch of milk if the mixture seems too dry but it should not be too wet or sticky).
  • Turn on to a lightly floured surface and knead briefly.
  • Form in to a round and flatten the dough slightly before placing on to a lightly floured baking sheet.
  • Cut a cross on the top and bake for about 30 mins or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
  • Cool on a wire rack.


Eat and enjoy! Now I don't normally do food recipes but I was so surprised that it was so simple that I thought it only right to share with all you baking virgins out there. 

Anyway, this week, it was the Grump's turn to declare me a keeper ;o)

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Last Note :

  • My criteria for following recipes is that all ingredients and all instructions should ideally fit on one page. That's it.





18 comments

  1. Looks gorgeous Sue, you can't beat fresh baked bread can you. We've treated ourselves to a bread maker & are loving all the different varieties we're creating not to mention the smell of fresh bread as we wake up of a morning!
    Have a fab weekend.
    Jane xx
    My Midlife Fashion

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    1. We have a breadmaker too. It was one of the Grump's toys. We have a phase with it every other year for about a week where we can't make enough fresh bread and then we kind of peter off. Currently it's out on loan to a friend :o) And it is lovely to come downstairs to the smell of fresh bread - there's nothing quite like it.

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  2. Excellent - definitely trying this one out - LOVE soda bread - thanks for sharing!

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    1. This is easy peasy - I was so surprised and impressed that I blogged it! But it's lovely with some butter - oh yum!

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  3. Looks very impressive Sue! I love the smell of freshly baked bread. I don't think I've ever tried soda bread, might have to give it a go...x

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    1. Sian, this was a doodle. The only thing you need to get that you probably won't have is a carton of buttermilk. The rest of it is all pretty standard ingredients - give it a shot!

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  4. Looks fab, Sue. Soda bread is a great bread recipe to start with, what's next? Sourdough??? Looks very yummy. Lynne xx

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    1. Nop. That's my one and only recipe for the next 10 years now Lynne! Baby steps, baby steps!

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  5. Looks delicious, well done you. If this has given you Baking confidence Mary Berry's banana loaf is the easiest ever if you fancy another go at it. Xx

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    1. Nop - not going there. The less I learn ... the less that is expected!

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  6. Aw...I'm all nostalgic as my mum makes this every week and I'm too far away to enjoy it anymore. Definitely giving this a go (once I have a kitchen again) - thank you for the recipe. My mum makes it without any recipe so I have never had much success working off her 'rough' quantities. Hope you're enjoying your weekend Sue. Ax

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    1. This will have to be one of the first things you make when your kitchen is in situ. Just think, sitting in your brand new kitchen with the waft of fresh bread going - bliss!

      And yes the weekend has been pretty chilled apart from when I have to "encourage" the homework out of the boys. Then I might have got a little het up!

      Hope you're resting up and your back is holding up.

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    2. Avril's reply made me laugh cos SNAP! I could never quite replicate my mother's soda bread either with her 'pinch' of this and 'fistful' of that! Will certainly give this a try

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  7. Sue so very impressed, as I am not sure I could make it look and taste that good! Helen xx

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    1. I didn't think I stood a chance but honestly I was so impressed with how simple it was that I blogged it and I don't do cookery/baking stuff - that's the Grumps' territory.

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  8. It looks so good Sue! I used to make it with my Mum & will have to have a go with the kids! x

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  9. That looks great sue ;) See you can bake just fine! It really isn't as hard as some people think, though I definitely agree it's nice if the recipe fits on one page!! I love simple bread recipes so I might give this a go on the weekend ;)

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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  10. Looks lovely Sue - I could just eat a slice! I'm not very good with following long recipes - I get bored! x

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Susie So So