Easy and Delicious Irish Soda Bread Recipe

This is my Irish mother-in-law’s very own recipe for Soda Bread or Brown Bread as it’s often known as in Ireland. I hope you give it a try because it is delicious and as they say in Ireland “dead simple”. More than likely it will be the sharing of this amazing treat which becomes a challenge! If you’re the magnanimous type then it’s possible you could share this bread with up 10 of your friends.

History

Being that this breadmaking process was quick and simple and the ingredients were cheap, it became a popular choice for the Irish. By 1845 during the resulting Irish famine, soda bread became a staple in every household. And because the leavening agent is baking soda instead of yeast, you could actually make this Soda Bread at home, as it could be cooked in a pot, over the fire, eliminating the need for an oven.

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Directions

1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.
2. Now add the buttermilk to the dry mixture.
3. Kneed the dough together with your hands. Using a very sharp knife, score the dough. This allows the center to bake.
4. Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown.

The resulting Irish Soda Bread looks iconic, beautiful and has a healthy, salty, flaky texture. You can serve this bread while still warm with a good Irish butter and your family and friends will absolutely swoon. It is also salty enough to be served all on its own. Enjoy with tea or coffee during the day, the at night settle in with an Irish Stew and pour a glass of chilled lager or Guinness. The Brown Bread or Irish Soda Bread as its known in America is about as authentic Irish as it gets!