Whole-Wheat Irish Soda Bread

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Soda breads are hearty Irish staples--wholemeal flour with large flakes of bran and wheat germ, or white flour or a mixture leavened with baking soda and moistened with buttermilk. The acid in the buttermilk reacts with the baking soda, which is an alkali, creating bubbles of carbon dioxide which rise the bread. Soda breads have the heft of a yeast bread but are made in minutes and the dough can be shaped into scones or a round loaf, depending on the occasion. Originally it would have been baked in a bastible (pot oven) over the open fire.

Cook Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
2 -pound loaf
Nutrition Profile:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole-wheat flour

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 ¼ cups buttermilk

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle with a little flour.

  2. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk. Using one hand, stir in full circles (starting in the center of the bowl working toward the outside of the bowl) until all the flour is incorporated. The dough should be soft but not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, in a matter of seconds, turn it out onto a well-floured surface. Clean dough off your hand.

  3. Pat and roll the dough gently with floury hands, just enough to tidy it up and give it a round shape. Flip over and flatten slightly to about 2 inches. Transfer the loaf to the prepared baking sheet. Mark with a deep cross using a serrated knife and prick each of the four quadrants.

  4. Bake the bread for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees and continue to bake until the loaf is brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped, 30 to 35 minutes more. Transfer the loaf to a wire rack and let cool for about 30 minutes.

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Tips

Easy cleanup: Recipes that require cooking spray can leave behind a sticky residue that can be hard to clean. To save time and keep your baking sheet looking fresh, line it with a layer of foil before you apply the cooking spray.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

185 Calories
1g Fat
37g Carbs
8g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Serving Size 1/2-inch-thick slice
Calories 185
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 8g 15%
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Vitamin A 22IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Folate 2mcg 1%
Sodium 386mg 17%
Calcium 67mg 5%
Iron 2mg 8%
Magnesium 5mg 1%
Potassium 179mg 4%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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