A classic Soda Bread is a traditional Irish bread that is super quick and easy to make. With no kneading and no proving involved, anyone can make it and have a freshly baked soda bread to eat in under an hour!
Soda bread quite dense and not as “fluffy” as bread made with yeast, however, it tastes great and the crunchy crust on the bread is amazing!!!!
Basic Soda Bread Recipe
Simple, plain, classic soda bread is made using only 5 ingredients! You don´t use yeast as a leavening agent like you would for other bread, which makes soda bread super simple and quick to make!
Instead, the rise in this bread is created by the reaction of the bicarbonate of soda with the buttermilk. Lactic acid, which is contained in buttermilk reacts with the bicarbonate to form carbon dioxide, which causes the bread to rise.
What can you serve soda bread with?
This classic soda bread is perfect to serve alongside a lovely bowl of soup! Here are a few delicious soup recipes you could serve it with:
- Lentil, Carrot and Ginger Soup
- Grandma´s Thick Vegetable Soup
- Roasted Cauliflower and Bacon Soup
- Mum´s Red Lentil Soup
- Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Soda bread is also good for making sandwiches, as each quarter can be made into a decent-sized sandwich. Fill with soft cheese, salmon or ham and cheese for a delicious packed lunch.
It´s best eaten on the day you make it; however, it also tastes nice the following day. Simply toast it or reheat in the oven for a few minutes. Then spread over some butter and watch it melt into the bread – delicious!
More Bread Recipes
This recipe is based on Paul Hollywood´s Soda Bread recipe. I have since used this recipe as a basic recipe, and worked on adding different flavours into this classic version of the soda bread. For example, you could also try out my Cheddar Cheese and Chive or Red Onion and Balsamic Soda Bread Recipes.
Looking for other great bread recipes? Then why not try my home-made Italian Focaccia Bread, my German Wholemeal Seeded Loaf of my absolute favourite: Homemade Crusty Sourdough Bread!❤
Classic Soda Bread
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 250g plain white flour
- 250g plain wholemeal flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 420ml buttermilk
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with a sheet of baking paper.
- Take a bowl and mix together both types of flour, the bicarbonate of soda and salt.
- Add in the buttermilk and mix with a wooden spoon to make a sticky dough.
- Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and carefully roll and fold the dough until it comes together – but do not knead!
- Shape the dough into a rough ball and flatten slightly. Transfer the dough to your baking tray.
- With a large knife, score the dough with a deep cross (you can cut almost all the way down to the bottom of the loaf) to divide it into quarters. Then dust the bread with flour.
- Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. The bread should sound hollow when you tap it from below.
- Leave to cool on a wire rack.
- Enjoy your fresh, home-made, easy soda bread!
