Although the Irish didn’t invent Soda Bread it is most often identified with the Irish. Soda bread is a bread that rises due to the reaction of the acid of a liquid like buttermilk, and a base like baking soda.
Ash— the Original Leavening Agent
The idea of using soda to leaven bread comes from the American Indians.
Centuries ago American Indians used pearl-ash or Potash, a natural soda in wood ashes, to leaven bread and make it rise.
Soda Bread Becomes a Staple Due to Difficult Times
Soda bread was adopted in Ireland in the 1800s due to increased poverty and hunger after the potato famine. Irish soda bread required few ingredients, making it an economical choice for staple breads. Baking soda produced a more consistent result for increased efficiency and reduced waste during those trying times.
What’s In Soda Bread?
Original Irish soda bread recipes contained nothing more than flour, buttermilk, baking soda, and salt. Families generally had kitchens with open hearths instead of ovens on griddles or in iron pots. This
resulted in a loaf that was dense, slightly sour, and with a hard crust.
Today’s versions sometimes include ingredients like butter, sugars, raisins, or seeds to enhance flavor. Traditional Irish soda bread is heartier than most yeast breads. Irish soda bread pairs well with soups and stews.
Why a Cross?
Legend has it that, in some areas of Ireland, a cross was cut on the top of the Irish soda bread with a knife to ward off the devil and protect the household.
Irish Soda Bread is a Tradition on St. Paddy’s Day
Try your hand at Irish Soda bread to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a time-tested recipe shared by Saint Patrick Catholic Church’s very own staffer Mary Randall.
Mary’s Irish Soda Bread from the Old Sod of Ireland
Ingredients:
5 cups of flour
1 cup of sugar
2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of soda
1/2 tsp of salt
2 eggs
2 cups of buttermilk
raisins (optional)
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients at once and knead on floured board for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add a little more flour if sticky to the touch.
2. Form two loaves and place the loaves on lightly floured cookie sheet, leaving room for the loaves to double in size.
3. Bake in 350 degree oven for about an hour. Check loaves at the 50 minute mark with a tooth pick. Baking will vary from oven to oven. For a crispier crust bake longer.
Learn more about the history of Irish Soda Bread or our Patron Saint in preparation for the Feast of Saint Patrick which is celebrated annually on March 17!
