Real Irish Brown Soda Bread Loaf

Ingredients

• 275 g coarse whole meal flour
• 175 g plain flour (use Bread flour for better texture)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar (optional)
• 500 ml buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon oil

Directions

1. 1

   Place wholemeal in a large mixing bowl.

2. 2

   Sieve in Cream flour, salt, soda and sugar (if used).

3. 3

   Add buttermilk and oil.

4. 4

   Mix well.

5. 5

   Transfer to a well greased 2lb loaf tin.

6. 6

   Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C, 325°F, Gas 3 for approximately 1 hour.

7. 7

   Bread will be baked if base sounds hollow when tapped.

8. 8

   Cool on a wire tray. For a soft crust, wrap bread in a clean tea towel.

9. 9

   Variations for bread In preparation, after adding the buttermilk and oil, add 50g/2oz chopped walnuts and 50g/2oz chopped dried apricots; When adding buttermilk and oil, add 1 tablespoon of treacle; Add 50g/2oz of grated cheddar cheese to the dry ingredients.