Soda bread is the national bread of Ireland and is made with baking soda for leavening instead of yeast. It is traditionally baked on a hearthstone or in a Dutch oven in the embers of a fire. From beginning to end, this recipe takes no more than an hour.

　　

Ingredients

makes 1 loaf

　　3 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

　　1 teaspoon salt

　　1 teaspoon baking soda

　　2 cups buttermilk

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

　　

Step 2

Measure and mix together in a large bowl: 3 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda. Measure: 2 cups buttermilk.

　　

Step 3

Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in 1 1/2 cups of the buttermilk. Stir, adding more buttermilk if needed; the dough should be soft, but not wet or sticky. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead just enough to bring the dough together. Turn it over and pat it into a round loaf about 1 1/2 inches high. Place on a baking sheet and cut a cross into the top of the loaf with a knife. Cut fairly deeply into the bread, being sure to cut all the way to the edges; this helps the bread to rise properly. Bake for 15 minutes, lower the temperature to 400°F, and bake for another 30 minutes, or until done. To test, tap the bread on the bottom: it will sound hollow when done.

　　

Variation

Step 4

For brown soda bread, use 3 cups wholewheat flour and 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour.

　　The Art of Simple Food