Irish soda bread was traditionally cooked in a cast iron pot by people who didn't have an oven in the 1800s, when it was first introduced. Variations to the bread emerged over time, with some adding sunflower seeds, cheese and sun-dried tomatoes to the ingredients. Some also use wheat germ or oat bran for the dough, but all of these are not traditionally Irish ingredients.
Below is how the classic Irish soda bread recipe is prepared, which you can serve for St. Patrick's Day:
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups of flour and more for dusting *
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 tablespoon sea salt
1/2 cup of baker's fine sugar
1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar
2-1/2 cups of creme fraiche **
3/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup golden raisins
* It's recommended that you use only the best white flour for this recipe, preferably Irish brands like King Arthur or Guisto.
** Since creme fraiche is only available at specialty grocery stores, you could just prepare your own at home using two ingredients only: buttermilk and heavy cream.
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Add the sugar and mix well. Start creating a hole in the middle of the mixture, then carefully pour in the creme fraiche, a little bit at a time. Using a wooden spoon, stir well while pouring continues until the dough is formed. If it's too stiff, you might need to add some milk, but it shouldn't be wet or sticky. Then, add the raisins.
Dust some flour on a kneading board then work the dough thoroughly. Carefully shape it into a round mound that's at least two inches thick. Cut cross marks to "divide" the top into four sections. Put on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Then, remove from the oven and let cool on a rack.
A photo posted by Sharon Mcleer (@slm_0316) on Mar 10, 2016 at 7:38am PST
The purpose of putting a cross section on the bread is both scientific and religious. "It allows the heat to penetrate into the thickest part of the bread, so it assists cooking," chef Rory O'Connell said. "And obviously the cross is a cruciform shape, so in a Catholic country that had a resonance - it had the symbolic note of crossing the breads and giving thanks."
