White Soda Bread

White Soda Bread

Makes 1 Loaf

Ingredients

• 2 lbs (900g) Plain Flour
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) Salt
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Bread Soda
• 4 oz (100g) Butter
• Up to 1½ pints (900 ml) Buttermilk
• Extra Wholemeal Flour to sprinkle

Although I’ve never smelt the aroma of the white soda bread, it sounds delicious.

Method

Lightly grease a baking sheet.  Pre-heat oven to 190^oC/375^oF/Gas 5

Sift the flour, salt, bread soda into a large bowl, tipping any bran from the flour back into the bowl.  Rub the butter into the flour mixture, then adding buttermilk to make a soft dough.  You may not need it all so add carefully.  Knead the dough lightly until smooth.  then transfer to the baking sheet and shape to a large round, about 2 in thick.  Using the back of a wooden spoon make a large cross on top of the dough.  Sprinkle a little extra flour.  My great granny never set a timer, she just knew when it was cooked.  Cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.