Quick Irish Soda Bread (2024)

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You may know this bread as a Soda Bread. This quick Irish soda bread is one of the traditional bread in Ireland.

Some girls dream of Paris, and me… Well, The Ring of Kerry. You see, Ireland is on my top 5 list of must-visit destinations. The scenery is just so breathtaking, and food right up my alley.

OK! Back to reality and this tasty bread. Soda bread is also traditional in Serbia as well as Southeastern Europe and I assume many other countries, of course.

Soda bread is probably the easiest bread, the basics of the basics. I simply cannot see anybody being unsuccessful in making it.The nontraditional person, like myself, I know quite a lot about traditions.

Maybe because I moved so much and met many amazing people with of course different backgrounds.

Then I got really interested in comparing food, people and traditions to one that I grew up with. I came to realize how same, but different we all are, even if we live in the same region.

It all depends on the household tradition that might be passed on from generation to generation.

History is something that I love digging into. Although, I am aware that some facts could be based on legends and myths.

However, it’s like connecting dots or putting together a puzzle in finding the right answer, or at least the closest one.

I think Imentionedthat before in more than one post, however, it isfascinatingtofindroots where certain dishes coming from.

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How people are preparing it from one country to the other.I could go on and on about this topic, but I will try to keep it as brief as possible.

The bread was, and it will always be a staple of mostEuropeanhouseholds. It is eaten withevery meal. To be quite honest, I feel like a meal is not a meal without bread.

In Serbia, Soda bread orpogača (po-ga-cha) have been in households, some say as early as the Medieval period.

Well, Ibelieve that’s notquitetrue becausebaking soda was actuallyintroduced to Europearound the mid 19th century.

Just like in Ireland,Serbs and people of Orthodoxreligiontraditionally cut the cross on top of the bread with a knifebefore baking it.

Superstitious beliefs are that it willprotect the household from evil if the cross is cut at the top.

There are many rules and rituals about this particular bread around Orthodox Christmas, which falls on January 7th, following the Gregorian calendar.

It is eaten on ChristmasDay, and if I gothroughall the rituals it would takesome time to explain everything.

Here is a fun fact: Lady of the house would place a coinin the bread dough before baking and whoever finds it on a Christmas day, it was believed thatfortunateperson will have good luck throughout the year.

Head of thehousehold would break the bread (it’s never cut with the knife) and meant to be shared among family, and friends, especiallyduring celebrations.

Watch my video on youtube how to make: IRISH SODA BREAD

Ingredients

4 cups about 500g All-purpose Flour +for dusting/kneading
2 tsp. Kosher salt
3/4 tbsp. Baking soda
1 large egg (optional)
2 cups 16 FL Oz/473 ml Cold Buttermilk
Oil for greasing the pan

Instructions

Preheat the oven on 375°F /190°C
In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix an egg and add it to the flour.
Add buttermilk, a cup at the time and mix it with a wooden spoon just enough to bring it together, then dust your working area/countertop, and knead it just until you form a ball. Do not apply too much pressure as you would when you knead bread. Dust the dough with more flour, if needed. Form a dough ball.
Oil the pan and transfer the dough in the baking pan, cut a cross on top, almost going all the way through.
Bake for 40 minutes, depending on your oven. If you like the crust crunchy leave it in the oven for up to 45-50 minutes. You'd know that is done if you take it out of the oven and hit the bottom or the top of the bread and it sounds almost hollow.
Allow it cool down under a clean kitchen towel, preferably on a cookie rack. I like it warm, so I keep it for nearly 10 minutes. If you want bread for the next day, and softer, after it is cooled down, wrap it in a plastic foil and then cover the bread with the kitchen towel.

Notes

Anegg is optional! You can use it, but it isnotnecessary. I think it is just personal preference.

You may ad seeds on top of the bread before baking. It tastes great with it!

Did you make this recipe?

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