Healthy Brown Soda Bread Recipes

TRADITIONAL BROWN SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 6, 200°C (400°F). Mix the flour, bread soda and salt together in a bowl. Combine the egg with the buttermilk and honey then mix into the flour. Add a little more buttermilk if the mixture is dry - it should be a soft dough. Pour the dough into a lightly oiled loaf tin. Sprinkle the sesame seeds or porridge oats over the top of the loaf if using. Bake for 45-50 minutes. To know when it is cooked simply tap the bottom of the loaf - it will sound hollow when it is fully cooked. Remove from the tin and wrap in a clean tea towel while cooling. This will keep the crust soft.

BROWN SODA BREAD WITH OATS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch bread pan.
• In a large bowl, mix together flours, steel-cut oats, rolled oats, brown sugar, salt and sifted baking soda. Mix well with your hands.
• Make a well in the center of flour mixture. Pour in buttermilk. Working from the center of the bowl in concentric clockwise circles, with fingers outstretched, stir buttermilk into flour mixture. (You can use a rubber spatula instead if you don't like getting dough on your hands.) This should take about a half a minute at most. Dough will be quite moist. Use a rubber spatula to scrape into bread pan and smooth out the dough to fill pan evenly ( the pan will be filled only about halfway.)
• Place in the oven and bake 40 minutes, until dark brown and a tester inserted comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on a rack.

BROWN OATMEAL SODA BREAD

Steps:

• If using sour milk, prepare and set aside.
• In a large bowl mix 2 1/4 cup of the flour with the rest of the dry ingredients.
• Form a well in the center.
• In another bowl (or large measuring cup) whisk together the egg and milk.
• Pour milk mixture into the dry ingredients and fold until JUST combined.
• Turn out onto floured surface and knead the other 1/4 cup of flour into the bread being careful not to overwork the dough.
• Cut dough in half.
• Form into 2 round loaves.
• Cut a cross into the top of each loaf.
• Dust with flour and sprinkle with additional oats.
• Sprinkle baking sheets (I prefer to use baking stones) with oats to prevent sticking and bake loaves at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

BROWN IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 t. salt.
• Cut in butter.
• Combine 1 egg and buttermilk and add to flour mixture; stir till just moistened.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead gently for 12 strokes.
• On a greased baking sheet, shape dough into a 6-in. round loaf.
• Cut a 4-in. cross, 1/4-in. deep, on the top.
• Brush with one beaten egg.
• Bake for 35 minute in a 375 degree oven.
• Cool on rack.

IRISH BROWN SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly grease two baking sheets.
• In a large bowl, stir together whole wheat flour, white flour, rolled oats, baking soda and salt. Gently mix in the buttermilk until a soft dough is formed. Knead very lightly. Divide dough into 4 pieces; form into rounded flat loaves. Mark each loaf with an 'X' and place on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 to 45 minutes.

HEALTHY BROWN SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat over to 180°C.
• Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl except the seeds.
• Add honey and olive oil and rub into flour using fingertips.
• Add the seeds and mix.
• Stir in enough buttermilk (around 200ml) to make to make a wet but not runny mixture.
• Mix as little as possible, just enough to get everything wet.
• Turn mixture into 1lb loaf tin and sprinkle a few more seeds on top if you wish.
• Bake for 55 minutes.