Irish Soda Bread Sourdough (quick sourdough recipe)
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This sourdough Irish Soda Bread recipe is very quick and easy to make. This version uses a traditional Irish soda bread recipe, but with the added depth of flavor your sourdough starter brings.
You can use sourdough discard or active starter, it doesn't matter in this recipe, since baking soda is the leavening agent. You can find instructions for making a sourdough starter here.
Using basic ingredients, sourdough Irish Soda Bread is a very quick recipe to make since there is no fermentation time at room temperature - you literally mix, shape and bake! You'll have delicious sourdough soda bread in one hour! Get that Irish butter ready! Or just make some easy homemade butter!
With no waiting time, you might also have time to make a few other quick sourdough recipes like no wait sourdough waffles, sourdough banana fritters or sourdough banana bread. And if none of those take your fancy, then you could try one of these sourdough discard recipes.
If you're looking for some other recipes ready for St Patrick's Day you might also enjoy this Sourdough Bread made with Irish Guinness Beer or this sourdough beef and Guinness stew served with sourdough herb dumplings.
What is Irish Soda Bread?
Irish Soda Bread is actually more like a scone in texture, as opposed to actual bread. It's really more like a type of quick bread.
It originated in Ireland, where the soft wheat that was grown wasn't really suited to rising with commercial yeast. When bicarbonate of soda became available, it was inexpensive and easy to store for long periods. It was also worked well with the soft wheat flour grown by the Irish and allowed them to make a bread on the open hearths.
Irish soda bread also made use of buttermilk, a by product of making your own butter. It's the lactic acid in the buttermilk which reacts with the baking soda to give Irish Soda Bread its rise.
Traditionally, soda bread is often made with orange zest, currants and other dried fruit and served with a cup of tea (much like we would serve a scone). Many modern soda bread recipes use eggs, however this makes the bread too stodgy and wet. I've chosen to stick to a more traditional Irish recipe.
A cross is slashed in the top of the bread with a sharp knife before baking. Depending on who you speak to, the purpose of the cross is said to ward off the devil or bless the bread, but there are also other versions of this. Technically, the cross allows the bread to rise and open up more in the oven (much like when you score sourdough bread).
Why Make Soda Bread with Sourdough?
Given that Irish Soda Bread uses buttermilk and baking soda as a leavening agent, why should you add some sourdough starter to it?
Well, for a start, sourdough starter (whether it's active or discard) brings a new level of flavor to Irish Soda Bread. It's also a great way to add some extra nutrients to this plain bread. Sourdough starter is full of all the good stuff including vitamins and minerals. If you choose to use your sourdough discard in this bread, it's also a great way to avoid food waste.
No matter whether you use an active sourdough starter or sourdough discard, it's important to ensure that it is 100% hydration. If it's too runny it can make the dough too sticky to work with.
How To Make Sourdough Irish Soda Bread (step by step)
Making sourdough Irish Soda Bread is really easy. In fact, it's a great way to get your kids involved in sourdough baking! And the best thing is you don't really need to wait for it to cool down, you can enjoy it straight out of the oven with some cultured butter and jam.
It makes an easy breakfast too (especially if you've run out of bread). I love making this for my Irish friends on St Patrick's Day - it's such a special way to say Happy St. Patrick's Day!
And a quick tip - you need bicarbonate of soda or baking soda for this recipe - not baking powder.
- Preheat your oven to 428F (220C). Line a baking tray or cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt and baking soda into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk and sourdough starter and stir until it's bubbly and well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and quickly mix to form a sticky dough.
- Lightly dust your counter top with flour and tip the dough out. Knead the dough around 8 to 10 times.
- Now form the dough into a rough round and place onto the prepared sheet pan or baking tray.
- Press the dough down to around 1" thick and then slash a deep cross on the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 428F (220C) and then turn the oven down to 392F (200C) and bake for a further 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool slightly before slicing.
How To Make This Sourdough Soda Bread Recipe Without Buttermilk?
While buttermilk is a traditional ingredient in soda bread, it is definitely possible to make it without buttermilk. Particularly because you're using sourdough starter, which brings a much more complex flavor to the bread, leaving out buttermilk is not the end of the world.
If you don't have any buttermilk, use 330g of whole milk with 20g of white vinegar or lemon juice added to it. Leave the milk and vinegar for a few minutes while it thickens and then use it in this great recipe.
This 'cheat's version' of buttermilk really does work! You can also use this version of buttermilk in these chocolate chunk sourdough muffins and these sourdough banana waffles.
If you are wanting a vegan sourdough Irish Soda Bread, you can use a plant based milk instead.
Can You Use Regular Milk to Make Soda Bread?
No, you need to use buttermilk or at least the buttermilk alternative given above. This is because buttermilk contains acid, which reacts with the baking soda to give this bread it's rise. Without the acid, the necessary chemical reaction won't happen.
What Flour Is Best For Sourdough Irish Soda Bread?
Given that Irish Soda Bread was traditionally made using soft wheat, you definitely don't need to use bread flour for this recipe (which is made from hard wheat).
I have used a mixture of all purpose flour (white flour) and whole wheat flour. You can use only all purpose flour if you wish, however the whole wheat flour really adds a depth of flavor and color to this bread. It also smells absolutely amazing!
Do You Need A Dutch Oven To Make Sourdough Irish Soda Bread?
You can easily make this recipe without a Dutch Oven. Sourdough Irish Soda Bread is generally baked on a baking sheet or cookie tray lined with parchment paper.
If you prefer to bake inside a Dutch Oven, you can of course bake your homemade sourdough Irish Soda Bread inside a Dutch Oven. It will give you a lovely crust - and may actually be similar to how traditional soda bread was made when people had open hearths in their kitchens as opposed to ovens.
Recipe Variations for Soda Bread
While this sourdough soda bread tastes incredible as it is, there are always a few things you can add to take it to the next level. Here are a few suggestions:
- The zest of an orange and 100g of currants (the smell of this is out of this world amazing).
- Add a handful of rolled oats to the flour mixture and then roll the ball of dough in oats before slashing it.
- Caraway seeds are a popular addition to Irish soda bread.
- For something a little fun, add 100g to 200g of your favorite chocolate chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
No they are not the same. Irish soda bread is leavened with baking soda, whereas sourdough bread is leavened with natural yeast from a sourdough starter. Soda bread is not fermented, unlike sourdough bread which needs a lengthy fermentation time due to the wild yeast.
Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda can be used in sourdough bread to create a less sour loaf. Added after bulk fermentation, but before shaping, it can help to create a lighter, more fluffy loaf of sourdough. It can be difficult to incorporate the baking soda after bulk fermentation though as they dough cannot be kneaded at this point.
Both types of bread use flour and contain refined carbohydrates. Sourdough bread would be considered healthier in the fact that it is a fermented food with lower gluten levels, making it easier to digest.
Sourdough Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 250 g All Purpose Flour (plain or bread flour is fine)
- 250 g Whole Wheat Flour
- 15 g Salt
- 15 g Baking Soda (bicarb soda)
- 350 g Buttermilk (see notes for alternatives)
- 100 g Sourdough Starter (100% hydration)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 428F (220C). Line a baking tray or cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt and baking soda into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk and sourdough starter and stir until it's bubbly and well combined.
- Pour the buttermilk and sourdough starter liquid into the dry ingredients and quickly mix to form a sticky dough.
- Lightly dust your counter top with flour and tip the dough out. Knead the dough around 8 to 10 times. Less is more with this bread.
- Now form the dough into a rough round and place onto the parchment lined baking tray.
- Press the dough down to around 1" thick and then slash a cross on the top using a sharp knife or lame.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 428F (220C) and then turn the oven down to 392F (200C) and bake for a further 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly before slicing. This bread is best eaten warm.
