Breads made with this type of wheat flour don't rise well with yeast, but work very well with baking soda as a leavener. With a sharp knife cut a deep cross on top of the ball. Line the pot or the baking sheet with parchment paper. I grew up eating brown bread in Ireland and it's lovely to find recipes that don't depend on an expensive baking mix for success. Irish butter cookiesare favorite melt in your mouth shortbread cookie recipe that does call for Irish butter, no substitutes. This "lets the fairies out" during baking! Irish Soda Bread Mix $5.95. Add the butter and work in with your fingers until fully incorporated and there are no lumps larger than a pea. If you live in the United States, coarse whole-wheat Irish-style flour is available from King Arthur Flour. Most recipes and foods have been adapted for the various countries and kitchens theyre prepared in, and you should feel free to do the same with this one. I am so glad you enjoyed the bread and I hope get the Ireland soon! Pour 150ml of water into a small bowl and stir in the molasses, then crumble in the fresh yeast, stirring a couple of times. Speaking of baking in various countries, when I was testing this recipe, I got a lovely note for a cook in Ohio whod been making it in her restaurant kitchen for eighteen years, and Ive summed up her notes and findings at the end of this post. This is another post I had to postpone or I wd have needed another breakfast. A while back I switched from using regular KA whole wheat flour in my bread to Hodgson Mills whole wheat graham flour (http://www.hodgsonmillstore.com/en/all-natural-flour/whole-wheat-flour-71518-05005-001_group) its stoneground and has a much nicer texture than King Arthur. Always interesting to see how much of a dish is down to technique and how much is down to specific local ingredients. Mix all the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. Would that be teaspoons, tablespoons or cups? I have been searching for the best brown bread recipe since my return. Hi Maura, this is so sweet. Irish brown bread is a family favorite in my house. We didn't get to see Kerry Way or Killarney, but maybe on our next trip. The best thing about having a loaf of Irish Brown Bread on your counter is that it's a natural accompaniment with literally every meal. 50g coarse cornmeal I am using only stoneground flours from a local mill, its not more expensive surprisingly. I just made this the other day and it was amazing. I added about 3 tbsp of ground flax seed for extra texture & a drizzle of honey to the dough for a little sweetness. Ill definitely be making this one. In terms of the pan Ill stick with parchment paper for now haha! Preheat oven to 375 F. Wonder how a cast iron skillet would work for baking the bread? For Americans, another flour alternative is Graham flour. The successful outcome is even more special because I have an unreliable oven. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes while you mix the dough, then drain well. Great question about omitting the sugar: I made a test loaf this morning, everything the same except without sugar. I dont use the food processor and I import the stone ground flower, since its the only way to get the gritty texture that is so authentic. How does this happen. The Irish brown bread flour I use is Odlum's Coarse Wholemeal, and you can order it here. Irish Brown Bread is great for dipping into a nice big bowl of Guinness Stew or Dublin Coddle. I hope you will both be able to return to Ireland again soon, it's such a relief that we seem to be inching our way back to normal. The baker in your pics looks so much like our choir conductor we had in Devon that its each time I come back like an unreal (and pleasant) shock. I have never tried this bread! of water, not 50ml. Odlums is another good wholemeal flour to use when King Arthur Flour is out of their Irish flour. Super good, especially given how little work it is. Honey also works in place of sugar. Form the dough into a large ball and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Coarse and less refined wheat flours were the most affordable and were used to make brown soda breads like this recipe. Thank you for writing this up. I am going to be participating in a virtual Irish Soda Bread Making Event tomorrow. I will have to give it a try with honey, that sounds so delicious. elizabeth: My partner loves it! Do you make Brown Bread often for your family? Bake Ireland's signature brown breads with our Irish-style wholemeal flour. Where in Ireland are you from? 40% of 30g = 12g, Therefore 2 1/2 teaspoons. While many Americans know about Irish soda bread, made with all-purpose flour, raisins and/or caraway seeds, Irish brown bread (also called brown soda bread) is a true Irish staple thats on menus and tables in Ireland every day. It sounds like you were as smitten with the Brown Bread as we were! Posted by: Helen B. Love making simple breads and when I noticed I had all the ingredients, I had to make it right away. Thank you for the lovely comment. It's not as finely ground as standard whole wheat flour. So I wrote to them and a few hours later, Robert Mosse, a member of the family who owns the mill, wrote back to me with some answers. Unfortunately, we havent been able to travel this last year, so for my bday in February my wife had a cake made up to look like the chowder and brown bread. Can I refrigerate it in the pan or not? A gf and I hiked part of the Kerry Way in late July-early Aug this year. Eating it takes me back to our time in Ireland, too. Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube LinkedIn. I make this and it was fabulous! Required fields are marked *. I made this bread yesterday and it turned out heavenly! Your first comment under Notes re-preparing ahead of time were a little confusing (prob my fault!). Oh, breakfast at Ballymaloe and this bread shine in my memory from a trip there two years ago. Its easy to make a substitute for buttermilk. Two good brands are Bob's Red Mill and Arrowhead Mills. Stir together until blended some lumps will remain. Love your work so much :). Brown tends to lean towards the denser side of the spectrum, basically equivalent to a whole-wheat or multigrain bread . This recipe is the best! Used whole wheat flour, substituted 4 tbsps for wheat germ and used regular yeast. Its definitely the crunch factor and the healthy hardiness of soda breads that keep us coming back for more. Once it hasrisen to the top of the pan (just like above), pop it in the oven and let it bake until almost done, then tip it out onto the rack of the oven and let it finish baking. If you want to make a delicious soup for your family then you have to try Irish potato leek soup. The best Irish Brown Bread is hearty, simple, and flavorful, especially when spread thickly with fresh butter or with blackberry jam. Hi Meghan! Hi Joan, thanks for your question. Instructions. Thanks for commenting! Thank you for the recipe! Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk and the oil or butter. It was such a smashing success I think I baked it three times in one week. It came out beautiful - raised nice and tall and quite delicious. Whole wheat pastry flour will make a moist loaf with fine crumb; Irish-Style Flour, a more traditional open-textured, drier loaf. The other one I add to bread (a little) is malted grain which is what is in Hovis. So you can start a loaf in the afternoon and have it for dinner. We had the soda bread with lashings of butter and honey and everyone was addicted. I have never actually measured my loaf; I would definitely try flattening it out a bit. I double this recipe, and half the Suger, and add 2 tbsp of Golden Syrup, and bake twice a week, so wholesome and full of fiber. Im glad more people will be able to try this recipe! If using an instant-read thermometer, the temperature should read 190F (88C). Thanks for sharing this traditional Irish recipe! In UK it was not overly difficult to get good bread in the 2000th but before it was nigh impossible. If you are looking for more Irish recipes to make for Saint Patricks Day or anytime at home here are a few of my favorites to try or bookmark for later. That looks delicious. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. I will have to pop along and see if they have something similar to the coarse flour you describe and give this a try! Add more buttermilk as needed. It was, and 3/4 is left still, to provide more enjoyable Irish moments. In Ireland, this bread is made with Irish wholemeal flour, which is more coarse than typical whole wheat flour. I'm just wondering if I could leave the sugar out so to have it more savoury for soups and meat. In Denver we are at 5280 ft and I am wondering if you have any suggestions about changes to the recipe at this altitude. Your recipe said to flatten the ball to 1/2 . Step 2: Mix the Guinness Soda Bread Batter My friend passed away about 2yrs ago so its very unlikely, but still! I'm so glad you're going to give my recipe a try. This is done for scientific reasons. I added a bit more and was able to get it into a good loaf but there was still flour left over. Totally missed the part about flattening it out to about 2", so it was quite a bit thicker but just baked until it had the hollow sound. 4 tablespoons (57g) melted butter or 1/4 cup (50g) vegetable oil. Im wondering how course the settings should be for this bread, hmm. When you bake it in the Dutch oven, do you uncover it towards the end of baking? I live in Connemara in the West of Ireland and I bake regularly. Authenticity is a noble cause, but we shouldnt be beholden to it. I dont usually comment on recipes but this was 10/10 delicious. That being said, I think some softened butter could be cut into the flour mixture and it wouldn't harm the finished loaf. King Arthur Seasonal Pans & Sets. This looks like a great recipe for brown bread. Powdery flour is estimated at 6 oz/cup. Hi Sabine, The white flour is 1 3/4 cups. Ingredients Vegetable oil spray, for the loaf pan Gently stir yogurt into the oatmeal mixture. Chopped walnuts would also be delicious in this bread. Organic Medium Rye Flour . However the good news is that they told me they are going to begin carrying it in 1,5kg bags under the name of their home-baking company, The Little Mill, which will be available next month in Ireland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbdj76Og9HE. I love a hearty bread like this! It never stick either. The dough with the regular flourwas a little bit sticky and stretchy, the one made with Irish flour was shaggyand coarse. I would like to try and recreate as best as I can the delicious brown bread I enjoyed baked by many an innkeeper and B&B owner during my visit to Ireland. I didnt have buttermilk so added some lime juice and it worked a treat. I used molasses/treacle in place of the sugar and was not disappointed. Spray a nonstick 9-inch (23cm) loaf pan with nonstick spray and cut a piece of parchment or wax paper to line the bottom of the pan. Copyright Those dense, complex-tasting loaves have just a few ingredients, so it's key to use flour that imparts flavor and texture. The recipe already needs 2 cups of whole wheat flour so I am unsure of how much more white flour is needed. Made it last night it was delicious! The outside was crunchier than I anticipated, but it was good for a first attempt. I have been researching and creating ethnic recipes for over 20 years. While the sugar included here only makes the bead very mildly sweet, the answer is yes: you can absolutely reduce or skip the sugar altogether if you prefer. I dream about Ballymaloe with good salty butter Im doing this tonight. I have a French student staying and I am nervous to give her my rustic bread! Coat your hands with flour and gently knead to form a soft dough. I find too that if I use sour milk rather than buttermilk the texture of my bread is lighter though it might not always be possible to get. So easy to make and nice and light. I havent been able to test the other flour. Itll still be bread whatever you call it, though. This traditional moist Irish brown bread is great with breakfast, slathered with butter or a healthy dollop of jam. Bastible Bread, its called, and made in a cast iron skillet. Thank you. ), and the recipe on their website makes like a dozen loaves. Find a recipe now - head to the Recipe Index. Pour the yeast mixture and the remaining 275ml water into the flour and stir until a batter is formed, which will have the consistency of oatmeal. Thank you so much Maggie! I make the cross cut in it beforehand. I am not a huge cook but Irish dinner on St Paddys day is an annual mini celebration of ours (like many Americans). Coarsely ground from red whole wheat, this soft flour is our version of the whole grain flours used to bake traditional Irish breads. Could this recipe be baked in two bread tins instead of rounds? I love to share "mostly healthy" easy and affordable ethnic recipes using fresh ingredients, with a bit of culture and food history sprinkled in. Read more-->. Make a well in the dry flour mix to make room for the liquid ingredients. Then I tried it with some Irish butter and it was just like being back there! Made for an even crust. Fresh yeast is available in most supermarkets in the United States, in the refrigerated section. Heat over medium, just until mixture reaches warm room temperature. I hope you get to bake a loaf soon, and let me know how it goes! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. for the half cup. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I grew up in Ireland and the bread is definitely not this sweet. The deep color and nutty flavor come from wholemeal flour: a coarse-textured wheat flour with visible specks of bran. Although hes not like all French people : ). I would skip shortening because it won't add any flavor, and the bread is tender enough without it. at: but my pans and oven were different and had very ____________ results. Hi Nancy, By Nancy Mock February 28, 2022 Updated January 11, 2023 86 Comments. My French boyfriend loved it BTW. However it was the best Irish brown bread I have ever eaten. They work with the acidic buttermilk to help the bread rise. Whisk buttermilk and molasses. In the restaurant kitchen at Ballymaloe House, the chef arrives at6am to get the bread started, and pulls the loaves out by the time the first guests arrive in the dining room for breakfast around 8am. I haven't made this bread yet although it sounds delicious! Enjoy the bread, Ive been making it for 30-odd years and still love it. It would also be fantastic with some sourdough starter :). Stir whole-wheat flour and quick-cooking oatmeal into the butter mixture. Thanks!! Hi Carla! Well I tried the molasses and 3 C. white to 1 C. ww flour, and it was tasty. I love that you describe the dough as shaggy :) And what a mighty fine loaf you produced! 2 cups well-shaken buttermilk Step 1 Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400F. As you said you have to experiment with the recipe and your own oven. Thanks so much for this information. Hi Sandra, I'm so happy you liked my Brown Bread! Dissolve the granulated 4.5/5 (68) Servings: 1 Brush the top with the melted butter. Whether at a pub or restaurant, Irish brown bread was always present. We had it with tea at E.J. When you make your loaf, please drop me a line and let me know how it comes out! My family has made Irish Soda bread for years, but I think it has been Americanized over the generations. Something similar to Boston brown bread? And I appreciate hearing the feedback about the measurements. Pour in the buttermilk mixture. I see in another comment you say 2. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Oh my gosh, I would love that! Hello! . Reading your comment made me realize I'm getting low on Odlums - I'll have to order more today and get more bread in the oven! In one sentence you sum up so much about some of the current food debates: Authenticity is a noble cause but we shouldnt be beholden to it. I wanted to cheer reading most of this post, because not only are you obviously honoring the original place and recipe, but you repeatedly get the point across that cooking is a very individual thing, and tied in to our own places as well. Slinte! I am excited to make this recipe thanks so much for sharing it and all the explanations it is so helpful! Hi Ellen, I actually don't cover it at all during baking. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. How creative to get a cake that looks like chowder and bread! A true hazard in my kitchen at times) This recipe was perfect! I have always made my own bread.mostly brown,,,I use fresh yeast sometimes,,,which my aunt always used when I was growing upand with the mixture she would make a batch, a sweet version with honey,,raisins,currentsso we will have two types of bread from the same batch.thanksQuerino, Missing an adjective (similar perhaps?) Grease a 1 1/2 to 2-quart baking dish, or an 8" or 9" cast-iron skillet or cake pan that's at least 1 1/2" deep. Hi Aiden, Thanks for this feedback, I'm glad you were happy with the loaf in the end. Same for rough-ground? I made this recipe today and it turned out great! Wholemeal tastes better freshly ground. Hi Nora! Mmmmm Irish Butter, made from grass fed cow's milk. Slinte! What a thrilling find this site and your Irish brown bread! Hi-ya! Give the dough a few quick kneads to just pull it together. I used wheat germ flour from Holland and Barrett as the Irish Style flour because I could not find the brand Odlums here in Kent, UK. God Bless! I've just done one with 1 T. molasses and 1 cup WW to 3 cups white flour. I love baking bread. This turned out perfectly and was SO easy! The dough is taken through step 4, put in the pan, and could likely be refrigerated then let come to room temperature and allowed to rise before baking. We remember stuffing ourselves at the stewed fruit and baked goods and oatmeal tables, and then being asked by the marvelous waitress, And now what will you have for breakfast? After which arrived various delicacies, including the freshest fish ever. Making bread is such a rewarding and relaxing process you did such a lovely job capturing that with the photos. Our site contains affiliate links to help maintain our publishing activities. This looks divine love the method for getting a crispy crust. I did the same mixing with my hands. If you put molasses or treacle or brown sugar in with soda bread you get a lovely crisp crust as well. Hi Hanna, Wow - when someone from Ireland says my brown bread is excellent, I consider that truly high praise! In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, rolled oats, steel cut oats, baking soda, and salt. Mix all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. 1 large egg 1 cups buttermilk, plus more as needed Directions Preheat oven to 400F. Yes, sometimes I take that shortcut too, and use regular milk with a little lemon juice if there's no buttermilk on hand. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Use about 1 tablespoon of the butter to thoroughly grease a 6.5 inch (measured from top to to) cast iron skillet. Just what Ive been looking for. I have heard from other readers that they've substituted a blend of whole wheat flour and wheat germ when they couldn't find Irish wholemeal. The only hard thing about making this bread is waiting for it to cool, but it is so worth the wait : ) I will be making this on a regular basis. Tracey and Kae: Apologies for those. Thanks for the suggestion. I make whole-wheat sourdough which does take a bit of time, but I will definitely keep this recipe mind if I suddenly run out and dont have a good 24hrs to wait for my dough to ferment. Since cold fermentation allows the bread to develop a more complex flavor, that could help give a boost to regular flour if people cant find or order the authentic kind. If you're planning a trip to Ireland, I'm certain that, like us, you'll be able to enjoy Irish Brown Bread everywhere you go. This recipe was adapted from: The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook. Trust me: you'll quickly fall in love with this delicious, hearty, and homey bread. Thanks! I live in Cork Ireland and your recipe is excellent. I think I know what you mean: sometimes after mixing the buttermilk in, there will be a bit of dry, unincorporated flour in the very bottom of the bowl.