Since bread is probably my favourite thing to eat, it’s what I am most motivated to conquer in the kitchen. I will master bread, I will! I’ve had some triumphs like this white loaf bread, and some failures, like my ciabatta. Today I am trying my hand at soda bread.
Ingredients:
500 g plain flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
400 mL of buttermilk
dash of milk, if necessary
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 200 C.
Sift together the flour and the baking soda into a large bowl. Then stir in your salt. Create a well in the centre of the bowl and pour in your buttermilk, stirring as you go. You might need to add a dash of milk in if the dough is too dry and you are struggling to bring it together.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and kneed it quickly – only for about a minute. Your dough should still be quite rough and lumpy. Shape your dough into a round and then lightly dust the top with flour. Place it onto a floured baking sheet.
Using the handle of a wooden spoon, press down 2/3rds of the way through the dough to create a deep cross.
Bake for about 40 minutes. Your bread should hollow when you tap underneath if it’s thoroughly baked.
Set it aside on a wire rack to cool.
Is there anything better than the smell of baking bread at home? I don’t think so!