Irish soda bread

Another quick bread, with no rising or proving needed. However, a bit of kneading is necessary, but all in all this is an easy, good looking bread!

Irish soda bread

250 g plain flour
250 g wholemeal flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
30 g unsalted butter, diced
300 ml buttermilk

Sift together the flours, the soda and the salt into a a large bowl.

Add the butter and rub it into the flour using your fingers, until it's evenly mixed.

Make a well in the flour and pour the buttermilk. Mix with a wooden spoon until the mixture is soft and crumbly.

Knead on a lightly floured surface for about 3 minutes, until the dough is smooth and silky (I used the mixing Kenwood for this).

Shape into a round (15 cm diameter and 5 cm thick approx). Dust with flour and cut a cross on the top (about 2 cm deep) from side to side.

Bake at 200C for 35 minutes.

Cover with a tea towel and leave to cool on a wire rack.