Irish Soda Bread
QUESTIONNAIRE:
Have you ever chosen a particular restaurant just because they serve great bread?
Have you ever ordered mussels just to be able to dip large amounts of bread into the broth?
Do you have a loaf of bread on your counter right now that costs more than you would like to admit?
Have you ever chosen a sandwich at a deli based solely on what bread it came on?
If you answered yes to these questions you may be...a BREAD-A-HOLIC.
And you maaaaaaaay love bread as much as I do. Though loving bread as much as I do is a hard and possibly unobtainable goal.
I know, I know, you're disappointed, but only one of us can be the bread queen. And considering I’m pretty sure 80% of my body is made of bread, I have to say I win that title.
As much as I love bread, and as simple as some recipes will tell you it is to make, making your own bread can easily go terribly, terribly wrong (BELIEVE ME!).
This is exactly why when I have a hankering for some fresh bread, I love QUICK BREADS!
You see, they are...well...QUICK! No rising, no kneading, just great bread...QUICK! And the quicker I am eating this bread, the better it is for not only me, but everyone around me. ;)
Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk Wash
servings: Makes 1 loaf of bread
Buttermilk Wash:
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- ¼ cup buttermilk
Irish Soda Bread:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup margarine, softened
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
Buttermilk Wash:
- In a small bowl, combine the butter and the buttermilk, then set aside.
Irish Soda Bread:
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Then lightly grease a large baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, margarine, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the buttermilk and egg and mix until just combined.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Then form the dough into a round and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Then brush the dough with the Buttermilk Wash.
- Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf, then bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean--40 to 50 minutes. During the baking process, brush the loaf with the Buttermilk Wash at least once.
Notes:
- The buttermilk wash will burn if it gets on your pan, so try to not let it drip too much over the sides of the bread.
- You can brush with the buttermilk as often as you wish, but just be sure you give it at least 10 minutes with no extra brushing of the wash at the end of the baking time to allow the top to brown completely.
- It is supposed to be a little chunky and not overly smooth, so don’t over knead it.
