Baking · serves 2

Soda Bread

No yeast at all. Mixed and in the oven in eight minutes.

50 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 cups atta
  • 2 cups maida
  • 1.5 tsp baking soda
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1.75 cups buttermilk (or curd thinned with milk)
  • 1 tbsp honey (optional)

Method

  1. Buttermilk is essential — the acid reacting with the soda is the only thing making this rise.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients, then pour in the buttermilk and bring it together with a light hand.
  3. Work it as little as possible. Ten seconds. Kneading soda bread makes it tough and there is no rescuing it.
  4. Shape into a round on a tray and cut a deep cross into the top, about a third of the way down. That lets the middle cook through.
  5. 200°C for 40 minutes. Hollow when tapped underneath.
  6. Cool on a rack. Best eaten the same day.

Questions people ask about Soda Bread

How long does Soda Bread take?

About 50 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of atta in Soda Bread?

Use plain flour, though the dough will be softer and need less water.

Can I make Soda Bread ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Soda Bread vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Soda Bread?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Soda Bread?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

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