Irish Brown Soda Bread
Local name: Arán sóide
In short: A dense, nutty wholemeal loaf raised with baking soda and buttermilk, mixed in minutes with no yeast and no rising. Best on baking day, with butter. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 250 kcal
Brown soda bread is the everyday bread of Irish homes, a loaf that is mixed in minutes and needs no yeast or rising. Wholemeal flour, oats, baking soda and buttermilk make a dense, nutty, slightly sweet crumb under a soft, deep brown crust. Slice it thick and eat it with butter, smoked salmon or soup. It is at its best on the day it is baked.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and dust a baking sheet with flour.
- Mix both flours, the 50 g oats, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it disappears.
- Make a well in the center. Stir the molasses into the buttermilk and pour most of it in. Mix quickly with one hand to a soft, sticky dough, adding more buttermilk if the flour will not come together.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and shape it gently into a round about 18 cm (7 in) across. Do not knead, or the bread will be tough.
- Place it on the baking sheet, cut a deep cross through the top, almost to the base, and sprinkle with the 1 tbsp oats.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then lower the oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake 30 to 35 minutes more, until deep brown and hollow-sounding when tapped on the base.
- Wrap the loaf in a clean towel and cool on a rack. The towel keeps the crust soft.
Tips
- No buttermilk? Stir 1 tbsp lemon juice into 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) milk and leave it for 10 minutes before using.
- Mix quickly and gently. The baking soda starts working the moment it meets the buttermilk, so get the loaf into the oven straight away.
Questions and answers
Why do you cut a cross in soda bread?
The deep cuts let heat reach the center so the loaf bakes through, and they make it easy to break into four wedges (farls) to serve.
How long does brown soda bread keep?
It is best on the first day. Wrapped, it keeps for 3 days and is good toasted, and it freezes for up to 2 months.
Can I make white soda bread?
Yes. Replace the wholemeal flour and oats with all-purpose flour and use about 350 ml (1 1/2 cups) buttermilk. Bake the same way.
How long does it take to make Irish Brown Soda Bread?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Irish Brown Soda Bread?
About 250 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 41 g of carbohydrates and 6 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 41 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 480 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
