Dutch Oven Irish Soda Bread

Along with the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, Irish soda bread (or brown soda bread) is a popular and traditional St. Patrick’s Day recipe.

Eaten for breakfast with butter and jam, or served with a hearty beef stew, its subtle flavor makes it versatile and delicious.

The bread is kind of a mix between a biscuit and scone, with a dense, yet soft and moist crumb texture inside and slightly crusty outside.

Some people like adding raisins, orange zest or nuts to their soda bread, which I've added in the recipe notes if you'd like to do so.

• Flour
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Buttermilk

(Other ingredients like raisins and caraway seeds can be added for a more Americanized version.)

You'll notice there's no yeast in this quick bread recipe.

That's because the baking soda and buttermilk help make the bread rise without the need for yeast.

Irish soda bread doesn't taste like much. It's very bland which is why it's great for serving with hearty stews or with lots of butter and smear of jam for breakfast.

Traditional “Irish” soda bread was made from just the 4 ingredients mentioned above and is actually called Brown soda bread in Ireland.

It was introduced in the 1800s when people didn’t have stoves yet and usually made in a cast iron pan over a fire.

The ingredients were inexpensive and the bread lasted weeks, making it an ideal recipe during that early time period.

Additions like raisins, sugar, butter and egg were added as “luxury” ingredients, if the family had them on hand.

Warm out of the oven and smeared with butter!

I also like making my favorite Guinness beef stew and serving the bread on the side to soak up that delicious stew juice.

Irish soda bread keeps room temperature for about 3 days or in the refrigeator for up to 1 week.

You can reheat any leftover bread in the oven or toaster oven for 10-15 minutes until the inside is warmed and outside is crusty.

• Baking Pan: This recipe for Irish soda bread is made in a covered Dutch oven pan. Covering the pan creates perfect steam for creating a moist inside and perfect crusty outside. You can also use a cast iron skillet, or 9-10" cake pan.
• Buttermilk: the buttermilk is essential in this quick bread recipe as it's the key to having the bread rise. If you don't have any on hand, you can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice and then adding enough milk to measure 1 ¾ cup. Let it sit for a minute or two before using in the recipe.
• Scoring the top of the loaf with an "X" before baking was said to keep the devil out. Aside from tradition, I like scoring the top of the loaf to make sure the center bakes through.

Made with just 4 simple ingredients, this traditional Irish Soda bread recipe is quick, easy and delicious making it the perfect St. Patty's day recipe.

Plus, there's no need to wait for the dough to rise ;).

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