Cliff Academy: Lesley Keogh’s Brown soda bread
This traditional bread is baked in kitchens across Ireland every day, and couldn’t be easier to prepare. Remember to mark the distinctive cross in it before it goes in the oven: it’s to let the fairies out, apparently.
Ingredients
220g/8oz plain flour
220g/8oz wholemeal flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder or bicarbonate of soda
1 pint/500ml buttermilk
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas mark 4.
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk, use your hands to draw the flour and milk together. Next, pour ingredients onto a floured surface and lightly form into a round (do not over-knead). Cut a cross on the top. Place onto a floured baking tray and put into the oven for about 35-40 minutes.
When you take the bread out, turn it upside down and tap the bottom. If the bread sounds hollow it’s done. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Source: Ireland.com
