The Fresh Loaf

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Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

FloridaShark's picture
FloridaShark

Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

I made this Sourdough Irish Soda Bread this afternoon for our St. Paddy's dinner.

Danni3ll3's picture
Danni3ll3

That looks great! Do you have a recipe to go with your picture?

FloridaShark's picture
FloridaShark

Here is the recipe you requested. It calls for currants but I like my soda bread with caraway seeds. I also found I needed more buttermilk than what was in the recipe, I made the dough wetter like the consistency of a biscuit or scone with extra buttermilk. The buttermilk I used was on the thicker side so that may be the reason. 

http://www.turnips2tangerines.com/2014/03/sourdough-irish-soda-bread.html

Danni3ll3's picture
Danni3ll3

I am not terribly fond of caraway so I will probably skip it. And thank you for the hint about extra buttermilk. 

drogon's picture
drogon

First time I've ever heard of sourdough in soda bread - I can't see the purpose really - it might add a bit more flavour but the whole point of soda bread is that it's not fermented - it's as instant a bread as you can get (I do note that that recipe doesn't actually have a fermentation phase, so just for flavour...)

I like soda bread though - I typically make it out of wholemeal flour (spelt or wheat) and add "bits" in like my usual seed mix or a handful of granary style flour. Buttermilk isn't always easy to get here (UK), so I just use plain yoghurt & milk or sometimes beer - essentially anything a little acidic to set off the bicarb... It's just a big scone[1] afterall :-)

Yours does look good though!

-Gordon

[1] which I understand is what leftpondians call "biscuit" ...

FloridaShark's picture
FloridaShark

I made my dinner and served the bread. I love soda bread and this one was excellent for flavor, crumb and moisture. Sometimes when I make it, it seems a bit too dry but this bread was not and the crust seemed a bit crisper than a regular loaf. I'm not sure if it was the starter but it was one of the best I have ever made. 

FloridaShark's picture
FloridaShark

I made my dinner and served the bread. I love soda bread and this one was excellent for flavor, crumb and moisture. Sometimes when I make it, it seems a bit too dry but this bread was not and the crust seemed a bit crisper than a regular loaf. I'm not sure if it was the starter but it was one of the best I have ever made. 

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

Being acidic can be the catalyst instead of the buttermilk. 

On cultures for health website they make many 'sourdough' breads with baking soda this way. 

cgmeyer2's picture
cgmeyer2

your bread looks fantastic. i'll will try your recipe. i do not like regular irish soda bread but i do love bread with caraway seeds. i'm half irish,half german; guess the german side won on this bread.

claudia

le boulonger86's picture
le boulonger86

Love Soda Bread, this one with cheese ....... yummy

ThomesB's picture
ThomesB

That looks awesome I love soda bread and I love cheese! 

mutantspace's picture
mutantspace

you need to make holes in it to let the fairies out...having said that i dont see the point in a sourdough soda bread....