What is Soda bread?
[[File:Irish brown soda bread.JPG|thumb|Homemade Irish brown soda bread]] '''Soda bread''' is a kind of soft, golden bread made with [[baking powder|baking soda]]. In its most basic form it contains only four [[:wikt:ingredient|ingredient]]s; [[flour]], [[salt]], baking soda, and [[buttermilk]]. Other ingredients can be added. A little sugar, some [[Raisin|raisins]], add some butter will make it a raisin soda bread.<ref name=bake>{{Cite web |url= http://www.joyofbaking.com/RaisinSodaBread.html |title=Raisin Soda Bread Recipe With Picture - Joyofbaking.com *Tested Recipe* |work=joyofbaking.com |accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> Soda bread, or Irish brown bread, became prominent during the great potato famine in the 19th century. It was dense and made of wheat, so it was cheap and filling. It truly became a lifeline during tough times.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Michael|date=2025-02-12|title=The Soul-Stirring Tale of Irish Brown Bread History {{!}} Big Yums|url=https://bigyums.com/irish-brown-bread-history/|access-date=2025-02-13|website=bigyums.com|language=en-US}}</ref> == Preparation == Soda bread does not use yeast to get its rise, instead the rise comes from baking soda [[wikt:react|reacting]] with the acid (soured milk or buttermilk).<ref name=bake/> This makes it a 'quick' bread that can be made in under 15 minutes. The important thing to remember is to have mix and [[:wikt:knead|knead]] the dough quickly and lightly. This will make a bread that is [[wikt:dense|dense]], but not [[dough]]y, with a tender, slightly [[:wikt:moist|moist]] [[:wikt:interior|interior]].<ref name=bake/> Once the dough is formed into a round, a cross is cut on the top of the bread, which divides it into quarters called farls.<ref name=bake/> == References == {{Reflist}} {{Food-stub}} {{Cookbook|Soda Bread}} {{Commons}} [[Category:Breads]] [[Category:Irish food]]