Irish Buttermilk Soda Bread

Yield: 2 x 7″ loaves
Time:

Delicious.  This recipe can be easily halved to make just one round loaf.  One other thing: if your mixing bowl is large enough, you can kneed the dough in bowl.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup (packed) brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled margarine or butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk both flours, sugar, and baking soda in medium bowl to blend. Add margarine and cut in until margarine is reduced to pea-size pieces. Add buttermilk; stir until shaggy dough forms. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead until dough comes together, about 10 turns. Shape dough into 2 7-inch round. Place dough on prepared baking sheet. Cut large X, 1/2 inch deep, in top of dough.
2. Bake bread for 30 minutes
3. Turn down oven temperature to 400 F, and bake another 20 minutes, until deep brown and bottom sounds hollow when firmly tapped. Transfer bread to rack and cool completely.

Source: adapted from recipe reprinted in Bon Appetit, March 2010, from Mary O’Callaghan (Ballinalacken Castle Country House & Restaurant).