Soda Bread Recipe: Easy Soup Accompaniment

In many bread recipes, the leavening agent is yeast. A soda bread recipe differs as the leavening agent is sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking powder. The benefit of using bicarbonate of soda as a leavening agent instead of yeast is that the bread is quicker to make, and it has a different texture.

As soda bread is so quick and easy to make, some people think it is a preferable option, especially if they have limited time. It is also a fantastic accompaniment for most types of soups, broths, stews, casseroles, and many other dishes.

Although this variety of bread originates from the United States, there are many countries around the world that make and serve it as an accompaniment. One such variation is Irish soda bread, which is a very easy bread recipe. Regardless of international variations, this bread usually contains plain (all-purpose) flour), baking soda, salt, and buttermilk.

You can make either white or wholemeal versions of this bread, and we have included recipes for both here. The instructions for how to make the two soda bread recipes are the same for both versions.

Here are two easy soda bread recipes.

Ingredients for White Soda Bread Recipe

• 1 kg plain white flour
• 4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 800 ml of either buttermilk or live yoghurt
• (If needed, a splash of milk)

Ingredients for Wholemeal Soda Bread Recipe

• 1 kg plain wholemeal flour
• 4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 800 ml of either buttermilk or live yoghurt
• (If needed, a splash of milk)

How to Make Soda Bread

1. Preheat your oven to gas mark 6/ 200C.
2. Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add the bicarbonate of soda and the salt, then mix well together.
4. Make a well in the centre of the flour.
5. Pour in the buttermilk or the yoghurt, while stirring into the flour to create a soft dough that is a little sticky.
6. If the mixture feels a little thick, then add a little milk to loosen the mix.
7. Sprinkle a little flour over your work surface and tip out the dough onto the floured surface.
8. Need for one minute but no more, as you need to get the dough into the oven while the bicarbonate of soda is still working.
9. There is enough dough to create two round loaves that serve eight people or to make individual bread rolls for eight.
10. If you are making loaves for sharing, divide the dough into two and form two rounds, then mark a cross over the top of the bread.
11. For individual bread rolls, divide the dough into eight and mark each roll with a cross.
12. Put a lightly floured baking sheet on a baking tray, then add the bread.
13. Put the tray in the oven and cook for approximately 40- 45 minutes.
14. Check that the bread is cooked by tapping the underside to see if it makes a hollow sound.
15. If you want a crunchy bread roll, put the bread onto a wire rack when you have taken it out of the oven.
16. On the other hand, you can make soft bread rolls by covering the soda bread with a damp cloth after cooking.

Additional Tips

You can also make a gluten-free version of this easy bread recipe with gluten-free flour.