There are some recipes that are so good they survive many centuries. Irish soda bread is one of these recipes and it couldn’t be easier to make. Plus, the bonus to making this hearty bread is that you don’t need any yeast at all, which is pretty great news if your cupboard is lacking this baking essential.

Because this bread contains no yeast, it also doesn’t require any rise time. There’s no waiting, no kneading, and no punching down the dough. The quick prep time is just one more thing to love about soda bread.

You begin making this quick bread by mixing together the dry ingredients. Then you slowly add buttermilk until just combined. If you don’t have buttermilk you can make your own replacement by combining milk and vinegar at a ratio of 1 cup milk to 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Whole milk works best for this and the final result really does add that buttermilk flavor to baked goods.

The buttermilk also acts as a leavening agent for the bread, meaning that it will rise quite nicely in the oven. This type of bread also gets rise from baking soda, hence the name.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for flouring work surface
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, (make your own by following the ratio of 1 cup whole milk to 1 tablespoon white vinegar)

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 425˚.
In large bowl combine dry ingredients, then slowly add buttermilk until just mixed.
Flour work surface and turn out dough.
Mold into a round shape and cut a large cross into top.
Transfer to baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden crust forms on outside. When fully baked loaf should sound hollow when knocked on.