Real Irish Soda Bread

It takes mere minutes to mix this

quick soda bread and get it in the oven.

You can have warm, fresh baked bread 

 anytime you want in under 45 minutes. 

Authentic Irish Soda Bread has only

4  simple ingredients.

Flour-Soda-Salt-Buttermilk

Things you probably have on hand.
There is another version of Soda Bread
(officially called soda cake) that
is sweeter and I posted it HERE.

 If you don't have buttermilk you can mix 

1C milk with 1t cider vinegar and let it 

sit for 10 minutes. It should be room temp. 

 Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. 

Make sure the soda is fresh and hasn't expired

(use expired soda HERE).
Make a well in the center of the flour and

add just enough buttermilk so that the dough

 holds together. Mix lightly. It will be sticky. 

Don't overwork it.

 Turn it onto a floured board and use your

 floured hands to gently knead it a few times

 and shape it into a disk.

 Put it into a greased pan: pie pan or cake pan.
Cut a cross on top about 1/4" deep from one
side to the other. That's traditional and helps
it to bake and split evenly.
It also lets the fairies out....so they say.

A cast iron skillet is my favorite.

Bake in a hot 375 oven for about 35 minutes,

 until it sounds hollow and is golden.

Let cool a bit before slicing.

Eat it warm slathered with butter. YUM!

 This is not just for St. Patrick's Day.

It's so easy, you'll want it when you serve soups or

chili. It's nice for afternoon tea with butter
 and jam, or toasted in the morning.

Or, how about a grilled cheese sandwich
for lunch? Made with white cheddar cheese
and fresh pesto.

Real Irish Soda Bread
3 C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1C to 1-1/2 C buttermilk

Combine the flour, salt, and soda.
Add enough buttermilk to hold it all
together. Start with 1C. Stir gently.
Turn onto a floured surface and knead
gently a few times. Shape into a disk
and put it into a greased pan.
Cut a cross into the top.
Bake in preheated 375º oven for about
35 minutes, until golden.
Serve warm with lots of soft butter.
Toast the next day for breakfast.

Enjoy!