Thyme-Herbed Soda Bread
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Servings:
Ingredients
  • 3 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 3 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for flouring
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme
  • 2 1/2 cup buttermilk, plus 3 tablespoons for brushing
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Flour a baking sheet and set aside.
  2. Sift the flours, followed by the baking soda, into a large mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt and the thyme. Mix together with clean hands.
  3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and slowly pour the 2 1/2 cups buttermilk into the well. Use your free hand to mix the flour into the buttermilk — try to spread your fingers far apart so that your hand resembles a trough. Make sure there are no dry patches and that the dough is completely wet.
  4. Flour your hands and shape the dough into a round. Place on the floured baking sheet. Flour a large knife and cut the shape of a cross into the top of the dough, two-thirds of the way through, and then stab every quarter with the knife. This old Irish tradition was apparently intended to kill the fairies! Using a pastry brush, brush the round of bread with the remaining buttermilk — this will give the bread a lovely color once baked.
  5. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, then turn the bread over and bake for another 5 minutes. To test whether the loaf is cooked, tap the bottom with your knuckles—it should sound hollow.
  6. Cool on a wire rack before serving. The soda bread will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.