Soda Bread without Buttermilk

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Learn how to make soda bread without buttermilk, a no yeast bread that’s super-fast and easy to make. You will only need five ingredients and about 45 minutes.

Learn how to make soda bread without buttermilk, a no yeast bread that’s super-fast and easy to make. You will only need five ingredients and about 45 minutes.

An easy Irish soda bread recipe that’s perfect not only to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day but for any other occasion. This soda bread without buttermilk is THE bread to bake on a lazy Sunday morning or an evening when you notice you don’t have enough bread for the family. You could also try the Cornbread Recipe without Buttermilk if you get the chance.

Why should you make this delicious quick bread?

• Fast: It takes 45 minutes to make, and you can serve it almost immediately; just let it get cool enough to handle.
• Easy: There is no yeast proving, no kneading, no rising time involved. You will only have to stir the ingredients with a spoon.
• Cheap: Only five simple ingredients and no buttermilk. Buttermilk is affordable but is not exactly the product you always happen to have in the fridge. But no worries, this soda bread without buttermilk is just as delicious as ever.

Expert tips

• Use a digital kitchen scale to measure the ingredients when baking; it guarantees for best results (Amazon affiliate link).
• Flour:
  • The amount of flour you need depends a little on the sort of flour you are using; I sometimes need to add a little more when stirring the ingredients.
  • Have a look at the images to see what the dough is supposed to look like, and add a bit of extra flour in small additions to help the dough reach the desired consistency.
• Don’t knead the dough; handle it just long enough to shape it. If you knead it, the bread will be stodgy/doughy.
• Bake the loaf immediately after shaping it. The baking soda will lose its power if you leave it lying around.

Five basic ingredients

Flour:

• All-purpose flour.
• However, you can use other types of flour as well. I often make the no buttermilk soda bread with spelt flour (white, whole, or a mixture). Or I replace about 1/2 of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.

Whole milk and vinegar:

• To replace the buttermilk. The vinegar reacts with the milk, helping the bread rise.
• I often use apple cider vinegar, but white wine vinegar is also great.
• You can use lemon juice instead of vinegar.

Baking soda:

• Also called bicarbonate of soda. It acts as a leavening agent; it reacts with acid and allows the dough to rise.

Step-by-step instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/ 230 degrees Celsius. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. You can also bake this easy Irish bread in a lightly buttered cast-iron skillet. Some people also like to use a baking stone, but I’ve never tried that (sounds good, though).
• Combine: Mix dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, and salt) in a large mixing bowl. Whisk well to distribute the soda and salt evenly (1). Mix milk and vinegar in a jug (2). Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the milk mixture (3). Stir to combine (4).

• Shape: Sprinkle the work surface with 1 tablespoon of flour. Turn the dough onto the floured surface and sprinkle it with a little bit of flour. Knead gently with floured hands, only 4-5 times, to bring the relatively sticky dough into shape (5). Tidy the dough around the edges to have a round loaf and transfer it to the baking sheet.
• Cut a deep cross with a serrated knife. The cut gives the bread its specific looks and helps the center of the loaf bake evenly (6).

• Bake at high temperature for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/ 200 degrees Celsius and continue baking for 20 minutes or until the soda bread without buttermilk is baked through.
• Check! Thump its bottom with the finger; it should sound hollow. If it doesn’t, allow the loaf for 5 more minutes in the oven.
• Let cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes before cutting.

Recipe variations

• Flour: we’ve already covered this above; replace some of the all-purpose flour with wholemeal flour. Or make the no buttermilk soda bread with spelt flour.

• Seeds: Add seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed) to the dough. Brush the dough with a bit of milk and sprinkle the top of the bread with more seeds before baking it. I love to add about 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds as well.

• Oats: Add about 1-2 tablespoons to the dough and sprinkle more on top.

• Cheese: Cut some Cheddar into tiny cubes and add them to the dough. Or sprinkle the dough with grated cheese before baking.

Recipe FAQ

How to serve it?

• This fantastic homemade crusty bread is delicious when still a bit warm. Spread a little cold butter on the warm bread and add a sprinkle of flaky salt; it can hardly get any better.
• It is also excellent in the morning slathered with butter and jam; it’s perfect with soups, stews, or casseroles. Try it with the Easy 4-Ingredient Potato Soup, Panera Black Bean Soup, or Lebanese Lentil Soup.

Recipes with bread

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