Monday, March 7, 2011

Food Inspiration: Irish Soda Bread

This delicious bread is the perfect side dish for St. Patrick's Day. This recipe calls for currants but raisins are also traditionally used.

I love cooking with orange zest. A microplane is a wonderful tool that makes zesting a breeze. When zesting make sure you only go over each area of the peel once. The white pith can have a bitter taste but the orange portion is full of fragrant oils.


Ina Garten's Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
  • 1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • 1 cup dried currants

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.
With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.
Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.
Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I always find it helpful to watch something made before I try it myself. Watch a clip of Ina Garten making this bread.

Have you ever tasted Irish Soda Bread?


For more St. Patrick's day posts click on the following links: 




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