Easy Soda Bread

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Excuse the half bread photo, didn't manage to get a photo of the final product before it was attacked! 

This recipe is super easy and a fab recipe for bread newcomers! There's no proofing needed and very light kneading. Making it perfect! 

Traditional soda bread calls for buttermilk. I make a knock off version using lemon juice and whole milk. This causes the milk to curdle and is a fantastic buttermilk substitute! 

This recipe works well with self raising, but I often find I forget to buy it. I always have plain in my cupboard and with the baking powder - it works well! 

If you wanted to use self raising, skip the baking powder. 


Ingredients 

300ml whole milk
Generous squirt of lemon juice (bottled works perfectly)
400g plain flour (extra for kneading)
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
1 tsp baking powder 


How to do 

Preheat the oven to 180⁰c and squirt the lemon juice in the milk. You want it to go nice and lumpy. Set aside for 5 or so minutes. 

Mix all the dry ingredients together and chuck in the milk mix. I normally get stuck in with one hand, saving the clean one to add more flour if needed. Alternatively, the blunt side of a butter knife works well to bring it all together. 

If required, add more flour if the mix is a little wet. Tip out onto a floured surface and knead lightly just to bring it together. Shape into a circle and score the top. 

Pop in the oven for around 40 minutes. It should sound hollow when tapped to indicate it's fully cooked. 

Leave to cool on a wire rack - or rip a bit off and slather in butter and much like I did! 

Soda bread goes stale quite quickly, so ensure it's wrapped or eaten within the day. Alternatively, you can make breadcrumbs or croutons with the leftovers! 

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