Joans Irish Soda Bread Recipes

MUM'S TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD RECIPE (BROWN BREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F (215°C).
• Mix together the flours, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles bread crumbs.
• In a separate jug, whisk the egg and buttermilk together (see note on how to make Buttermilk below)
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the liquid, 3/4 at once, into the flour mixture.
• Using an open hand bring the flour and liquid together to a loose dough. The dough should be quite soft, but not too sticky. You will know then if it needs more of the liquids. (Flour in different places reacts differently to added liquid).
• Turn onto a floured work surface and gently bring the dough together into a round, about 1 1/2 inches (4cm) thick (8 inches by 8 inches).
• Place on a baking sheet dusted well with flour.
• Score the bread by blessing it with a deep cross on top. Poke a hole in the 4 corners of the bread to release the fairies and stop them from cursing your beautiful bread.
• Glaze the bread with the leftover bit of buttermilk in your jug and dust the top with rolled oats.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 30 minutes more. When done, the loaf will sound slightly hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove from the baking sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.

AMAZINGLY EASY IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
• Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

CHEF JOHN'S IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
• Whisk all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Beat buttermilk, egg, honey, and orange zest together in a bowl. Pour buttermilk mixture, currants, and raisins into flour mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until a wet, sticky dough comes together.
• Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface; press dough together into a soft ball of dough and cut into 2 pieces. Form each half into a smooth, round loaf. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and let rest for 15 minutes. Cut a 1/2-inch deep "X" into the top of each loaf with a serrated knife.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 45 minutes. Transfer loaves to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the flour, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
• Add about 1 1/4 cups of the buttermilk to the flour mixture, working it into a shaggy dough with clean hands.
• If the dough seems too dry, add more buttermilk until a sticky dough is formed.
• Knead the dough a few times (being careful not to overwork it), then transfer it to a baking sheet and pat it to a thickness of about 1 1/2-inches.
• Score the dough in a criss-cross pattern with a floured knife, and puncture each of the 4 quarters with the tip of the knife.
• Bake the soda bread for 15 minutes at 450 degrees, then turn the oven temperature down to 400 degrees and bake for another 25 minutes.
• Turn the bread upside down and continue to bake at 400 degrees for another 5 minutes.
• Tap the loaf with your fingertips- it should make a hollow sound and be golden brown and crusty.

JOAN'S IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• 1. While not necessary an electric mixer with a dough handle is easier than doing the mixing by hand.
• 2. Mix the four eggs well.
• 3. Add the milk, eggs, and sour cream to the mixer bowl and mix well on low speed.
• 4. Fold in the baking soda, baking powder, sugar and raisins and continue to mix until well mixed.
• 5. Fold the flour in to the mixing bowl about a cup at a time until all flour is well mixed into the batter. Dough will be sticky.
• 6. Move the batter to a greased and floured 13x9 pan. Spread evenly in the pan.
• 7. Bake at 350 F for about 60 minutes or until a knife stuck into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
• 8. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Slice and serve plain or with butter, marmalade or your choice of topping.

HEALTHY IRISH SODA BREAD SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F, and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center. Pour in the milk and vinegar. Stir together until the flour is fully incorporated.
• Working with a small section of dough at a time, shape into a ball. Place onto the prepared baking sheet, and flatten to the desired thickness and width. (If the dough sticks to your hands, moisten your fingers and palms with a bit of water in between shaping each scone!) Once all of the scones have been shaped, score a + into the top of each one with a sharp knife, slicing about halfway through the dough (not all the way through!). If using the flaky sea salt, sprinkle a generous amount on top of each scone.
• Bake at 425°F for 15-17 minutes or until the outsides are crusty and the insides feel firm to the touch. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the rice milk and vinegar. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, raisins, currants, caraway seeds, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, and baking soda. Add the coconut oil, agave nectar, and rice-milk mixture and continue mixing with a rubber spatula until a sticky dough forms.
• Sprinkle half the reserved flour onto the baking sheet. Form the dough into a ball and sprinkle the top with the remaining reserved flour. Using a sharp knife, make a 1/4-inch-deep incision across the top of the loaf.
• Bake for 20 minutes, rotate, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes more. Tap the bottom of the loaf; if it sounds hollow, it's done. Set on a rack to cool.