St. Patrick’s Day Homecookin’: Irish Soda Bread

March 16, 2010

NYC Food Guy is proud to present another great recipe from Homecookin’ contributor Spice Jonze’n. If you’d like to contribute your recipes to the site e-mail [email protected]. Take it away Spice…

When I get my annual craving for Irish soda bread, I know St. Patrick’s Day is close and it’s time to bake this simple and delicious treat. My mother has been using this recipe for as long as I can remember and it consistently comes out great (add green food coloring for an extra touch). The caraway seeds give this loaf a great flavor and the consistency of the bread makes it like a large scone. It goes great with corned beef or toasted with eggs but it’s also great warm with butter. Be aware that with all baking there is a science behind the ingredients and procedures; it is important to be exact with the measurements to produce the most delicious outcome every time.

Ingredients

4 cups All Purpose Flour
½ cup sugar
4 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 cup Raisins (Blanched in 1 cup boiling water, simmer until plump)
1 Tbls. Caraway Seeds
1 ½ cup Whole Milk or Buttermilk

The Dough

1. Preheat the oven to 450^o, If you have a stone place it in the oven now.
2. Combine the dry ingredients with a whisk.
3. Add the raisins and the caraway seeds and give a quick whisk to combine.
4. Now mix in the milk and start to bring the dough together with a spoon or spatula.
5. Keep mixing until a loose dough forms and then you can use your hands to bring together and knead.

6. Keep kneading until the dough becomes smooth and you can shape it into a round.

7. Reduce the oven to 350^o, sprinkle a little cornmeal down on the stone, or place on a baking sheet.

8. Take a sharp knife and cut an X into the top of the loaf.

Baking

Bake the bread for 50 minutes

When you remove the bread from the oven, tap the bottom with your finger, if you hear a slightly hollow sound the bread should be finished, you want to make sure it is cooked all the way through so there is no doughy center. You may stick a longer toothpick into the center and if it comes out clean, it is finished.

Let sit for a few minutes. Then, chow time! Slice and serve warm with butter.

Enjoy!

Bon appétit,

Spice Jonze’n

Category Posted in HOMECOOKIN', Irish Soda Bread, Uncategorized 10 Comments »