Irish Soda Bread

This authentically Irish Soda Bread is great at any time of the year, but especially served with a slab of butter and a mug of Green Beer on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day! 

Irish Soda Bread:

3-½ c. (875 mL) all-purpose flour
½ c. (125 mL) natural bran
2 tsp. (10 mL) baking soda
1 tsp. (5 mL) salt
1 tbsp. (15 mL) granulated sugar
1-¾ c. (330 mL) buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400 deg. F. To large bowl, add flour, bran, baking soda, salt, and sugar, combining throughly. Add buttermilk all at once, mixing with hands to form a ball. Turn onto floured surface, kneading lightly 10 or 12 times. Do not over-knead or dough will toughen. 

Shape and pat into a round about 1-in. (2.5 cm) thick. With sharp knife, score top with an X. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 30-to-35 min. or until golden and a toothpick inserted  at the center comes out clean. Slice into wedges, serving warm with butter. Makes one loaf with 8-to-10 wedges.

As for that Green Beer … Put 4 drops of liquid green food coloring in the bottom of a chilled beer mug. Add a light-colored beer such as a lager or pilsener. Done! Tip: Don’t use food gel because it doesn’t mix as easily and don’t fall into the trap of believing blue food coloring + yellow beer = green beer. Uh-uh.