There is nothing like the aroma of a freshly baked loaf of bread permeating the house. Irish soda bread is best enjoyed the same day it is made. Leftovers can be toasted, and served with softened butter, or margarine, and a bit of fruit preserves.
Ingredients for Seeded Irish Soda Bread
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon sage
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 3/4 cup buttermilk
- Extra flour for kneading bread
- Extra sunflower seeds for embellishing bread
Directions for Seeded Irish Soda Bread
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking soda.
- Stir in the thyme, sage and sunflower seeds.
- Stir in enough buttermilk to form a soft dough, adding all the buttermilk if necessary.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface.
- Quickly knead the dough a few times, and form into a large circle. The dough should not be overworked, but should be a bit like a biscuit, or shortbread dough.
- Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the dough onto the baking sheet.
- Use a serrated knife to cut a cross into the top of the dough. The cross shape should be approximately 1 inch deep, this will ensure the center of the loaf of bread cooks through.
- If desired, brush the top of the dough with a bit of buttermilk, and sprinkle with sunflower seeds.
- Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before slicing.
Recipes Tips and Suggestions
1. Pumpkin seeds, or sesame seeds can be used in place of the sunflower seeds. Nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, could also be substituted for the sunflower seeds, if desired.
2. Just about any herb can be used in this recipe. Instead of thyme and sage, trying using rosemary, marjoram, oregano or parsley. Fresh herbs can be used in this recipe in place of the dried herbs. Substitute 1 tablespoon of fresh herb for 1 teaspoon dried herb.
3. A substitute for the buttermilk can be made by mixing 5 teaspoons of lemon juice with 1 3/4 cup milk. Stir the mixture together, and set aside for a few minutes, until it thickens, before adding it to the recipe.
4. 1/2 to 1 cup of dried fruit, such as raisins, currants or cranberries, can be added to the Irish soda bread, and used in place of the sunflower seeds. Irish soda bread with raisins, and other dried fruits, is known as spotted dog (Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread).
Additional Bread Recipes
The quick bread recipes article contains recipes for creating chili cheese cornbread, garlic herb bread and Parmesan chive biscuits.
The recipe for four varieties of rolled biscuits describes how-to make fast and easy muffins using only five basic ingredients.
Authentic buttermilk biscuits is another quick bread recipe which features buttermilk.
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