I ~ Irish Soda Bread

Event: Blogging Marathon #32
Theme: International / Fusion Food

I must admit that if not for this marathon and the letter 'I", I wouldn't have taken up this soda bread preparation. I like moist quick breads and somehow the fact that it is on the "dry and dense" side had always pulled me back from trying it even though I have bookmarked recipes for it. I copied this recipe from a cookbook I had borrowed long ago from my local library and the recipe got me a decent bread. 
Soda bread happens to be a quick bread, traditionally made using baking soda as the leavening agent. Flour, baking soda, buttermilk and salt are the ingredients of a traditional soda bread though butter, eggs, raisins / nuts can also be added.

Ingredients:
Wet Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter milk 
(In absence of buttermilk, combine 3/4 cup warm milk + 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar in a bowl and add. This is what I added.)
2 Tbsp melted butter
Dry ingredients: 
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup dark raisins (I used dark and golden raisins)

Method:
* Preheat oven to 375 deg F. Grease a baking sheet and keep it aside.
* Combine all the dry ingredients except raisins until blended in a mixing bowl. Mix in butter, buttermilk (or milk - vinegar mixture) and raisins to form a soft dough. The dough would be wet and sticky.
* Knead the dough for a minute or so on floured surface.
* Shape it into a round loaf and place it on the baking sheet. Flatten it slightly with hand. Cut an 'X' shaped slash on the top using a knife.
* Bake until golden brown or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. (about 35- 45 minutes.)
* Cool on a wire rack before slicing.


Logo courtesy : Preeti 
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