Irish Brown Soda Bread with Seeds
This hearty Irish brown soda bread is a variation on the traditional loaf, incorporating wholemeal flour and a blend of seeds for added texture and nutty flavor. It's a quick bread, meaning it uses baking soda as a leavening agent instead of yeast, making it fast and easy to prepare. Perfect served warm with butter or as an accompaniment to soups and stews.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Wholemeal flour(about 180g)
- 1.5 cups All-purpose flour(about 190g)
- 0.5 cup Porridge oats(about 50g)
- 0.25 cup Mixed seeds(e.g., sunflower, pumpkin, flax (about 30g))
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Unsalted butter(cold, cubed (about 15g))
- 1.75 cups Buttermilk(about 415ml, at room temperature)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease and flour a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the wholemeal flour, all-purpose flour, porridge oats, mixed seeds, baking soda, and salt.
- 3
Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture using your fingertips or a pastry blender until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- 4
Pour in the buttermilk and mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overmix; the dough should be soft and slightly sticky.
- 5
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently shape it into a round, flat loaf, about 1.5 inches (4 cm) thick. Avoid kneading.
💡 Tip: Handle the dough as little as possible to keep the bread tender. - 6
Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Score a deep cross on the top of the loaf with a sharp knife.
💡 Tip: This helps the bread cook through evenly. - 7
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- 8
Transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm with butter.
💡 Tip: Covering the bread with a tea towel while it cools can help keep the crust soft.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure your buttermilk is at room temperature for best results.
- ✓If the dough seems too wet, add a tablespoon of flour at a time, but avoid adding too much, as this can make the bread tough.
- ✓Experiment with different seed combinations like poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or chia seeds.
🔄 Variations
- Add a tablespoon of honey or a touch of sugar to the dry ingredients for a slightly sweeter loaf.
- Incorporate a handful of raisins or dried cranberries for a 'Spotted Dog' variation.
- For a richer flavor, use a mix of white and wholemeal flour.