Irish Brown Soda Bread
Ingredients:
225g (8 oz) whole meal flour
225g (8 oz) plain flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
50g (2 oz) mixed seeds, such as sesame, pumpkin or sunflower, or golden linseeds (optional)
25g (1 oz) butter (optional)
1 egg
375-400ml (13-14 fl oz) Buttermilk
You will need a 25cm (10 in) diameter tart tin, 3cm (1 in) deep
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 220 C (425 F), Gas mark 7.
- Sift together the flours, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl and mix with the seeds (if using). Add the butter (if using), and rub into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Make a well in the center.
- In another bowl, whisk the egg with the buttermilk and pour most of the liquid into the flour mixture. Using one hand with your fingers outstretched like a claw, bring the flour and liquid together, adding more buttermilk if necessary. The dough should be quite soft, but not too sticky.
- Turn onto a floured work surface, and gently bring it together into a round about 4cm (1in) deep. Cut a deep cross on top.
- Place on a baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the heat to 200 C (400 F), Gas mark 6 and cook for 30 minutes more. When cooked, the loaf will sound slightly hollow when tapped on the base. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
