World’s Best No Yeast Bread – Irish Soda Bread!

Ingredients

• 2 cups white flour (plain / all purpose)
• 1 3/4 cups wholemeal flour (wholewheat, Note 1)
• 2 – 3 tbsp Extra Flour (either flour, for dusting)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda (bi-carb, Note 2)
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups buttermilk, fridge cold (Note 3)

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 220°C/430°F (200°C fan).
2. Line tray with baking paper.
3. Whisk both flours (not Extra Flour), baking soda and salt in a bowl.
4. Add buttermilk, stir until it’s too hard to stir anymore.
5. Sprinkle 2 tbsp Extra Flour onto work surface, scrape out dough, sprinkle with more flour.
6. Gently knead no more than 8 times, bring together into a ball. (Note 4)
7. Transfer to tray, pat into 2.5cm/1″ thick disc.
8. Cut cross on surface 1cm / 0.3″ deep using serrated knife.
9. Bake 20 minutes. Turn oven down to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan).
10. Bake further 20 minutes, or until the base sounds hollow when tapped in the middle.
11. Transfer to rack and cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.