*

To make a truly authentic Irish Soda Bread, only four ingredients are needed: flour, salt, baking soda and sour milk. There are many variations of soda bread recipes that have been passed down through generations, some family specific. Some include adding butter, raisins, sugar, orange zest and even caraway seeds, these ingredients, bring their own uniqueness of flavors and textures to the bread. But, once any additional ingredient is added, it is no longer considered Irish Soda Bread, but rather a Tea Cake.

Some people may also be wondering how the bread rises without using yeast. It’s a simple chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acid within the liquid (citric acid if lemon juice is used or acetic acid if vinegar is used). Once the ingredients are blended together, carbon dioxide gas is released, now creating a leavening effect.

This bread is so simple and easy to make, from start to finish about an hour in total including the 50 minutes when the bread is in the oven.

Yield (1- 8″ round loaf)
4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups soured milk* (see note below) or buttermilk
1 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 tablespoon caraway seeds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with slightly greased parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients, optional ones too, if you decide to use them. Add the preferred liquid of soured milk* or buttermilk and stir until the dough holds together. Knead on a floured surface until all ingredients are incorporated. Shape into an 8″ round disk. The height of the dough will be about 1 1-2″ thick. With a sharp knife, make an X across the top of the bread, about 1/4″ deep. Transfer the loaf to the prepared baking sheet. Place into the oven on the middle rack and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until it is slightly browned. Transfer to a cooling rack and let rest for a couple of hours.

*Note: To make your own soured milk just add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk, stir, and let stand for 5-10 minutes. Once the milk slightly curdles, it’s ready to use.

I like to serve the bread or tea cake with orange marmalade or strawberry preserves along with a steaming cup of English Breakfast Tea.

Please see the website for The Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread at www.sodabread.info for a full history of Irish Soda Bread.

The above recipe was adapted from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook.

Visit Dorothy’s website at http://ddimarzo2002.wix.