- Pre heat the oven to 210º/200º fan.
- Sift the flour and the bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl.
- Cube the butter and add to the flour, alongside the teaspoon of salt.
- Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Pour in the buttermilk and use a pallet knife or spoon to begin combining the ingredients.
- Once a craggy dough has formed, begin to use your hands to gently bring the dough together.
- If the dough is a little dry, add a little milk or plain yoghurt to ensure that the ingredients bind.
- Shape into a round, approximately 4'-5' across, and 3' in height. Do not knead the dough.
- Place onto a floured baking sheet and score a deep cross in the middle of the round dough. According to Irish folklore, this cross was designed to release the fairies and ward off evil spirits - we now know that this helps the dough to both rise and also cook evenly all the way through.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the base of the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cover the loaf with a tea towel and allow to cool, then serve alongside your favourite meals, as toast, as a sandwich or however preferred.
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Top Tips...
- A standard carton of buttermilk is 284ml; you can top this up by adding a milk or natural yoghurt.
- Try different variations of these bread by adding herbs and spices, chopped chives, grated parmesan or chopped sundried tomatoes. The possibilities are endless!
- To make this bread vegan, use plant based butter and a plant based buttermilk in place of the dairy products.
- Wholemeal flour can be replaced with white flour if preferred.
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