Soda Bread
Makes 1 Small Loaf
- 250 g plain white flour
- 250 g plain whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- about 400ml buttermilk
- Heat the oven to 200°C 395°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Put the flours, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl and mix well.
- Make a well in the center and pour in half of the buttermilk.
- Using your fingers or a round-bladed knife, draw the flour into the buttermilk.
- Continue to add the buttermilk until all the flour has been absorbed and you have a sticky dough.
- You may not need all the buttermilk – it depends on the flour you use.
- Tip the dough out on to a lightly floured surface, shape into a ball and flatten it slightly with the palm of your hand.
- It is important to work quickly, as once the buttermilk is added it begins to react with the baking soda.
- Put the dough on the baking tray.
- Mark into quarters with a large, sharp knife, cutting deeply through the loaf, almost but not quite through to the base.
- Dust the top with flour.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the base.
- Leave to cool on a wire rack.
- Eat on the day of baking – or toast it the next day.
. Paul Hollywood's British Baking. Page 231. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014.