Soda bread

Soda bread is a quick bread traditionally made in a variety of cuisines including Irish, British, and North American. It gets its name from the fact that it uses baking soda (a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate) as a leavening agent, rather than yeast. This distinguishes it from other quick breads like biscuits and muffins, which are typically made with baking powder (a combination of baking soda and an acidic ingredient like cream of tartar).

The earliest known recipe for soda bread dates back to 1826, when it appeared in The Virginia Housewife, a cookbook by Mary Randolph. Randolph’s recipe called for flour, salt, butter, milk, and pearl ash (a.k.a. potassium carbonate), which was a common leavening agent at the time.

Soda bread became more popular in the 1840s when baking soda became more widely available. By the early 1900s, recipes for soda bread were appearing in cookbooks all over the United States. These recipes varied widely, but all shared the common ingredients of flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk.

Advice

Making soda bread is a great way to make a quick and delicious bread option. To ensure your soda bread turns out perfectly, it is best to use a high-quality flour. Make sure to measure the ingredients precisely and mix together until just combined. When shaping your dough, handle it lightly, as overworking the dough can cause the bread to be tough. Lastly, be sure to bake the bread on a preheated baking sheet for the best results.

Questions

What is special about soda bread?

Soda bread is a quick bread that is made with baking soda as a leavening agent instead of yeast. It is a traditional Irish bread that is easy and quick to make and requires very basic ingredients, such as flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. It is also known for its slightly crunchy crust and soft, slightly dense interior.

What does soda bread taste like?

Soda bread has a slightly sweet, nutty, and slightly tangy flavor. It is slightly chewy and has a coarse texture. It is usually served with butter or cream cheese.

Is soda bread a healthy bread?

Soda bread is usually made with whole wheat flour, baking soda, and butter, which makes it a healthier choice than other types of bread. However, it is still high in calories and saturated fat, and should be consumed in moderation.

Why is it called soda bread?

Soda bread is so named because it is made using baking soda instead of yeast as a leavening agent. The baking soda reacts with the acidic ingredients like buttermilk, yogurt, or sour cream to produce carbon dioxide, which helps the dough to rise.

How are you supposed to eat soda bread?

Soda bread can be eaten plain, toasted, or with butter, cheese, or jam. It can also be served with soups and stews or used to make sandwiches.

Why do you put a cross on soda bread?

The cross on soda bread is a traditional Irish symbol of good luck. It is said to ward off evil spirits, or to protect the family from hunger. It is also a sign of Christian faith, and is traditionally used as a blessing before eating.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Irish Soda Bread

  • wheat flour
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • all purpose flour
  • buttermilk
  • salt
  • currant
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Seeded Whole Grain Soda Bread

  • all purpose flour
  • fashioned oat
  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • millet
  • quinoa
  • sunflower seed
  • amaranth
  • flaxseed
  • baking soda
  • buttermilk
  • wheat flour
  • brown rice syrup
  • butter
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Irish Brown Soda Bread

  • oat
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • egg
  • wheat bran
  • all purpose flour
  • wheat flour
  • buttermilk
  • molasses
  • baking powder
  • butter
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Irish Soda Bread

  • cake flour
  • buttermilk
  • salt
  • baking soda
  • egg
  • baking powder
  • raisin
  • sugar
  • sour cream
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • sugar
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Irish Soda Bread

  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • raisin
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
  • butter
  • buttermilk
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Guinness Soda Bread

  • wheat flour
  • milk
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • guinness
  • rolled oat
  • salt
  • black treacle
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Irish Coffee Soda Bread

  • irish whiskey
  • dark brown sugar
  • baking soda
  • egg
  • buttermilk
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • wheat flour
  • espresso
  • butter

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
baking soda
all purpose flour
buttermilk
butter
wheat flour
sugar
egg
raisin
baking powder
currant
rolled oat
brown sugar
sour cream
caraway seed
wholemeal flour
vegetable oil
steel oat
walnut
white flour
water
bulgur
white spelt flour
light coconut milk
apple cider vinegar
coconut milk
margarine
mayonnaise
cinnamon
nutmeg
gluten-free flour
cumin
soda bicarbonate
chile flake
paprika
olive oil
nigella seed
butternut squash
fashioned oat
millet
quinoa
sunflower seed
amaranth
flaxseed
brown rice syrup
irish cheddar
green onion
irish bacon
oat
wheat bran
molasses
cultured buttermilk
cake flour
milk
guinness
black treacle
irish whiskey
dark brown sugar
espresso

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • salt 84%
  • all purpose flour 76%
  • baking soda 76%

Common Ingredients

  • buttermilk 72%

Usual Ingredients

  • butter 36%
  • wheat flour 32%
  • raisin 28%
  • egg 24%
  • sugar 24%

Rarey Ingredients

  • baking powder 20%