Donal Skehan is a home cook, food writer and television presenter who has written five cookbooks. He presents the TV show Kitchen Hero on RTÉ One in Ireland, Grandma's Boy on FOX International and is a judge on BBC's Junior MasterChef.
Soda Bread is an amazingly easy, versatile recipe and has stood the test of time as an Irish classic because it so simple. It is a no knead, no fuss style of bread which is my kind of recipe! You can change this classic by adding lots of tasty things like sea-salt, different cheeses, herbs but this time I added wild garlic! It’s delicious on its own or served with a warm bowl of soup.
Ingredients
7oz of wholegrain flour
10oz strong white flour
1½ buttermilk
1 generous teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
1 large free-range egg
1 teaspoon honey
1 handful of wild garlic leaves, roughly chopped
A pinch of salt
Method
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease and flour a 2lb loaf tin. Combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda, wild garlic and salt in a mixing bowl. In a Pyrex measuring jug, measure out the buttermilk and then whisk in the egg and honey.
Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, and then pour in the wet mixture. Add a little extra flour if you find the dough is too wet and sticky. Using a wooden spoon, bring the mix together to form a dough. Shape into a rough oval and place in the loaf tin.
Sprinkle with a little flour on top and bake in the oven for 35 minutes. The bread is cooked when you can turn it out on a wire rack, and when the bottom is tapped it should sound hollow. Allow to cool before slicing and enjoying with a little butter.
Donal demonstrates how to make this Irish classic in the video below. Check out his Facebook page & website for more culinary tips, recipes and food travels.
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