They ' re Always After Me Lucky Charms: Irish Soda Bread

I have a very Irish last name (think of O'Donaghue...it's only a little less Irish-sounding) but know very little about the actual culture of my country of origin. I know they have a soccer team. I know that Guiness comes from Ireland. And I know that the flag is a vibrant green, white and orange. I also know that the arts play a great role in the lives of the Irish - they're famous for bagpipes. Or wait - maybe that's Scotland?

See? I have a lot to learn.

I might not know Ireland but if there is one thing I know, it's bread. I'm not big on corned beef and I could take or leave cabbage, so when March 17 rolls around, I think Irish Soda Bread. This recipe, which I pulled from a blog and now I can't remember whose, let's you kick off St. Patrick's Day early. Unless you've already started celebrating.

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

4 to 4 1/2 cups flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 Tbsp butter
1 cup raisins
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups buttermilk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Sift together 4 cups of flour, the sugar, salt and baking soda into a large bowl.

2. Using a pastry cutter (I used my stand mixer and it worked fine), work butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal, then stir in raisins.

3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add beaten egg and buttermilk to well and mix in with a wooden spoon until dough is too stiff to stir.

4. Dust hands with a little flour, then gently knead dough in the bowl just long enough to form a rough ball. If the dough is too sticky to work with, add in some more flour. Do not overknead! Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and shape into a round loaf.

5. Transfer dough to a large, lightly greased cast-iron skillet or a baking sheet. Using a serrated knife, score top of dough about 1/2'' deep in an "X" shape. Transfer to oven and bake until bread is golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped with a knife, about 35-45 minutes. Cool and serve at room temperature.

How are you celebrating the luck of the Irish this year?

Comments

[VeggieGirl]

Lovely bread!!

[Susan]

That looks great! I can't wait for St. Paddy's Day - I will definitely be having some Guinness.

[Heather]

some foods just remind me so much of my mom! she used to make this all the time, and it's one of my favorites. yours looks delicious!

[Jessica]

I am not a fan of Irish food, not a huge fan but this I would try. Corned beef is not my cup o'tea either. Looks lovely.

[mandy]

I love St. Patty's day. I am always on the lookout for new bread recipes.

[Katie]

Cool! I have an Irish last name too!

[Heidi Renée]

Bleeeech, Guinness. The bread sounds tasty, though!

[E.P.]

I've never made bread before, and I really want to give it a shot. Would this one be a simple first start on baking that?

I'm a huge fan of St. Patty's Day even though I have NO Irish blood running in my veins. Though I DO have an Irish name...

[Elra]

Wow, this is very nice soda bread. Delicious.
Cheers,
elra

[lisa (dandysugar)]

Looks like a very delicious soda bread!

I have an Irish last name too! =)

[Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella]

Ooh I tried Irish Soda Bread for the first time a few months ago-very nice indeed. Yours looks fantastic Maris! :)

[beyond]

i have never had soda bread before, this looks good.
in my part of manhattan there is a lot of public drinking on st. patrick's day. and loud obnoxious brawling starting in the morning, or even days before. i am not a big fan of this and very glad i will still be abroad then.
maris -i have a problem with my email- hummingbird cake is: "A moist, fruity cake filled with bananas, pineapple and pecans (tastes like your favorite banana bread!). Iced with cream cheese frosting." (from their website.) i usually don't like banana in anything, as i find the taste very overpowering, but the balance of flavors in the hummingbird cake is divine.

[claudia (cook eat FRET)]

i grew up on this stuff in nyc. my dad loved it and we could get it all year long. seems easy enough to make - tempting....

[kat]

Matt made us some the other night too, I like the addition of the raisins.

[Matt]

I would kill someone for a guiness right now.

[Sara]

I've never made soda bread before, in fact, I'm not sure that I've ever even tasted it! Sure looks good though.

[Sophie]

MMMMMM...your soda bread looks delicious!!!

[Chuck]

Yum, I too love soft warm thick pretzels. Simple and delicious!

[veggietestkitchen]

I love this bread. It's so easy and almost (dare i say) failproof!!

Happy hol's!