Hobbiton Traditional Irish Soda Bread

• 4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk*

*If no buttermilk, you can use whole milk plus 1 1/2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice.

 Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or dutch oven with a lid.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually stir in the buttermilk until the dough comes together in a slightly sticky ball.

Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead gently a few times. Form the dough into a ball and then press into the prepared pan so that the dough resembles a large disk. The dough should reach the edges of the pan, but may spring back slightly. (You can cut into 2 or 3 smaller loaves).

Cut an X into the dough with a sharp knife, about 1/4 of an inch deep. Cover the pan of dough with another round cake pan turned upside down. You can also use a dutch oven with lid if you have one.


Bake for 25-30 minutes, covered, then remove the top pan and bake uncovered for about 10 minutes more or until the crust is dark golden brown.

*Variation: Mix sauteed onion or garlic with parsley for a good savory bread.

 I didn't score this one - want it very rustic
so it cracks on it's on but it it never did.

Cut open this unscored loaf looks like this.

 

Source: Let's Dish