Irish soda bread

• 500 g whole wheat flour
• 250 g plain white flour
• 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1½ tsp salt
• 250 ml buttermilk*

Method

Mix the whole wheat flour thoroughly with the white flour, salt, and bicarbonate of soda. Make a well in the centre and gradually mix in the liquid. Stir with a wooden spoon.

With floured hands, knead the soft dough into a ball in a mixing bowl. Put on a lightly floured baking sheet and flatten out in a circle 4 cm/1½ inches thick. With a knife dipped in flour, make a cross through the centre of the bread so that it will easily break into quarters when it is baked.

Bake at 220°C/430°F/Gas Mark 7 for 25 minutes. Reduce the heat to 150°C/300°F/Gas Mark 2 and bake another 15 minutes. Leave the loaf standing upright until it is cool.

*Trish’s Tip: You can buy buttermilk from a supermarket but I like to make it at home. Measure your 250 ml of milk (whole or semi-skimmed but NOT skimmed) into a jug and add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Whisk thoroughly and leave to stand for 5 minutes. You’ll see the milk changes colour and appears to thicken slightly – it’s ready.

For an alternative recipe, you can see mine which I posted five years ago! Where did the time go?