Soda Bread

Another fast bread, useful if you’re avoiding yeast. It doesn’t keep well, so eat it the day it is made.

Soda Bread

Ingredients

  • 1lb/450g spelt flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp butter or olive oil
  • 280ml milk (or milk substitute)
  • 2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar

Preparation

  1. Heat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6.
  2. Mix together the flour, bicarbonate and salt (a whisk does this quickly and thoroughly).
  3. Rub in the butter until it more or less disappears. Mix the milk and lemon juice or vinegar (the milk will curdle) and tip it into the flour bowl. Bring together the mixture with a fork to make a soft dough.
  4. Tip it on to a floured baking sheet and quickly shape it into a round with your hands. Cut a deep cross into the top with a knife and put the bread straight in the oven.
  5. Bake the bread for 40 minutes, then turn it over and bake for another 5-10 minutes on its back.
  6. Eat hot from the oven, or cool the loaf on a wire rack.