Another great food for St. Patrick's Day, but fantastic anytime. Sources are Smitten Kitchen and New York Times: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2007/03/blasphemous-bread/. Recipe makes 1 10-inch loaf.
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients (makes 1 10-inch loaf):
Ingredients (makes 1 10-inch loaf):
Good aged Cheddar cheese, for serving
- Butter for greasing pan plus 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- 1 1/2 cups raisins or currants
- 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
Tart apples, cut into slices, for serving.
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 10-inch oven-proof skillet and line with parchment or waxed paper. (Deb note: Mine came out a bit taller, as my cast-iron is 8-inches and deep.)
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. Do not overmix. Stir in the raisins or currants and caraway seeds.
3. Pour batter into skillet. Brush top with remaining butter. Bake until golden and firm to touch, about 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving with Cheddar and apples.
See the recipe for pull apart bread for other ideas.