Soda bread

I used to make soda bread quite often but have got out of the habit.  I don’t know why as it is so easy and you can get from flour to baked bread in under an hour!  Here’s how.

Ingredients

500 g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate soda

1 tsp salt

400 ml buttermilk or 400 ml milk soured with 2 tsp lemon juice

Method

1. Heat the oven to 200 C.
2. If making your own buttermilk pour 400 ml milk into a jug and mix 2 tsp lemon juice.  Leave for 5 minutes.
3. Place all of the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix.
4. Pour in the buttermilk and mix until a sticky dough forms.
5. Tip the dough onto a floured surface and shape into a ball.  Do this with minimal working of the dough.
6. Place the dough on a baking tray lined with silicone paper or baking parchment.
7. With a sharp knife cut into quarters.  The knife should almost but not quite go through the dough.  Dust with a little flour.
8. Bake the bread for 30 minutes.  It should sound hollow when the base is tapped and be a lovely golden brown colour.

There is very little nicer to eat than fresh bread and this really does hit the spot.