Soda bread is quite quick to make as you don't need to wait for it to prove. It's the perfect partner to Spiced potted crab.
Ingredients
- 400g stoneground wholemeal flour
- 200g plain white flour, plus a little extra for kneading and dusting
- 1 rounded tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 450ml buttermilk
Method
- 1. Preheat the oven to 230°C/fan210°C/gas 8. Mix the wholemeal and plain flours, bicarbonate of soda and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre, pour in the buttermilk and mix into a soft, very slightly sticky dough.
- 2. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until it comes together into a ball. Cut in half and knead each piece briefly into a smooth round. Do not over-knead, as this will make the bread heavy. Slightly flatten each round into 4cm-thick discs, then place them well apart on a baking sheet lightly dusted with flour. Using a large, sharp knife, cut a large cross into each loaf, to within about 1cm of the base.
- 3. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 15 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 4 and bake for another 10 minutes until well-risen with a golden-brown crust. The loaves should also sound hollow when you tap their bases.
- 4. Leave to cool on a wire rack, then cut into 1cm-thick slices. Toast and serve with the potted crab.
Nutritional info
Per slice: 88kcals, 0.6g fat (0.1g saturated), 3.6g protein, 18.2g carbs, 1.3g sugar, 0.4g salt
Chef's tip
The acidity of the buttermilk works with the bicarbonate of soda to produce a gas that acts as the raising agent for the dough, instead
of yeast. All soda breads are best made and eaten on the same day. Serve with Spiced potted crab.