Does anyone have a good Irish soda bread recipe?
Elaine H from Trenton
Answers:
Recipe for Irish Soda Bread
Irish Soda Bread
- 4 cups flour
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cups buttermilk
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Sift together the flour, sugar,
salt, and baking soda into a large mixing bowl.
- Using a pastry cutter or two knives, work butter into
flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal, then stir
in raisins.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add
beaten egg and buttermilk to well and mix in with a
wooden spoon until dough is too stiff to stir. Dust hands
with a little flour, then gently knead dough in the bowl
just long enough to form a rough ball. If the dough is too
sticky to work with, sprinkle in a little more flour. Do
not overknead. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface
and shape into a round loaf.
- Transfer dough to a large, lightly greased cast-iron
skillet or a baking sheet. Using a serrated knife, score
top of dough about 1/2'' deep in an "X" shape. Transfer
to oven and bake until bread is golden and bottom sounds
hollow when tapped with a knife, about 35-45 minutes.
Check for doneness also by inserting a long, thin skewer
into the center. If it comes out clean, it's done.
Hint 1: If the top is getting too dark while baking, tent the
bread with some aluminum foil.
Hint 2: If you use a cast iron skillet to cook the bread in
the oven, be very careful when you take the pan out. It's
easy to forget that the handle is extremely hot. Cool the
handle with an ice cube, or put a pot holder over it.
Transfer bread to a rack to let cool briefly. Serve bread
warm, at room temperature, or sliced and toasted. (11/20/2007)
By CharlieRS
