So if you’re planning a trip to Ireland this summer be sure to sample some of the very many tasty delights this little country has to offer. Among the favourites has to be brown bread. Try it with fresh seafood chowder and it’s a match made in heaven. There’s something so special about the aroma of freshly baking brown bread that evokes happy memories of mixing the dough by hand with granny as she wipes her floured hands in her crossover apron before cutting the tradional cross in the top, which was said to ward off the devil and protect the household. To this day there is nothing quite like a slice, warm from the oven, slathered with pure kerrygold butter! Ah I’m salivating at the thought! Check out the recipe below and be sure to tell us what other Irish foods you’d like to see covered on the site.
Traditional Irish Brown Bread
Ingredients:
4oz plain white flour/cream flour
12oz coarse wholemeal flour
1/2 to 3/4 pint of buttermilk (sourcream is a good substitute)
1 teaspoon bread soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Method:
Preheat oven to 200°c/400°f/gas 6
Sieve plain flour, salt and breadsoda in a bowl
Add wholemeal flour and stir
Mix in the buttermilk to form a soft dough
Turn onto a floured board and kneed until it comes together
Place on a floured baking sheet and shape into a round and cut a cross in top (don’t go too deep!)
Place in centre of the preheated oven for 40 mins
To check its fully cooked, knock on base of bread and it should sound hollow
Wrap in a clean dry (non fluffy) teatowel while hot and allow to cool to achieve a softer crust
Serve with lashings of kerrygold and enjoy!
IrishDaily.Org 