Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 5 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting kneading surface)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 4 ounce butter (1 stick)
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.

2. 2

   Using a pastry cutter or clean fingers rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like coarse meal.

3. 3

   Add the sugar and raisins and stir to distribute throughout the flour mixture.

4. 4

   Stir the beaten egg, yogurt and buttermilk together in another bowl or pitcher.

5. 5

   Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, and add the liquid ingredients. Mix together with a wooden spoon to form a dough.

6. 6

   Using your hand, lightly dusted with flour, gently knead the dough into a ball.

7. 7

   Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead gently into a round form about 9 inches in diameter. Do not over knead. This creates a tough bread.

8. 8

   Transfer to a lightly greased 9 inch baking pan. Score the top of the loaf with a cross shape to create four distinct quarters or farls.

9. 9

   Bake in a 400 degree F oven for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes more. The loaf is baked when the bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Cooking time vary depending on altitude and varying oven temperatures. It may take additional time to bake your loaf. Use the tapping test to be certain your bread is fully baked. If the bread starts to brown too much early in the cooking process, cover it with a tent of aluminium foil.

10. 10

    Remove the bread from the oven and the baking pan. Wrap the bread in a clean dish towel and allow to cool on a wire wrack.

11. 11

    Cut in quarters first and then slice. Serve sliced bread with butter.