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So what will you make with your Guinness Irish Stew? Well, Irish Soda Bread of course! This bread takes a long time to bake but it is simple to make. It also tastes great with the stew.


Ingredients

3 1/4 cups unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups buttermilk
(substitute - add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to white milk)

* Add in Ideas

Herbs - 2 tablespoons freshly chopped herbs, such
as rosemary, sage, thyme, chives, and parsley


Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
* The temperature changes half way through the baking so be
sure to read all the way to the end of the recipe.


Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, make a
well in the center and pour all of the buttermilk in at once.
Using 1 hand, stir in a full circle starting in the center of the
bowl working towards the outside of the bowl until all the
flour is incorporated. If it is too wet add more flour. The
dough should be soft but not too wet and sticky.

When it all comes together, a matter of seconds, turn it out
onto a well-floured board. WASH AND DRY YOUR HANDS. Roll
dough around gently with floured hands for a second, just
enough to tidy it up, flip the dough over. Pat the dough into a
round about 1 1/2-inches deep.

Sprinkle a little flour onto the center of a baking sheet and
place the loaf on top of the flour. Cut a deep cross on it with a
sharp knife, prick the four sections to let the fairies out. Pull
the cuts open more so the bread opens up some to make sure
of this.

Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400 degrees
for 20 minutes, or until just cooked. If you are in doubt, tap
the bread. If it is cooked it will sound hollow. Cut into wedges.