Rustic Country Loaf

Submitted by Tisme

"I found this recipe in the paper, The Weekly Times. It is a simple loaf which is really a larger version of a scone. The recipe states that you must work fast, as the ingredients begin to react with one another as soon as the dry mix comes in contact with the liquid component. Served with a cheese and meat platter this is really tasty, it would also be fantastic served with a ploughman's lunch."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 40mins
• Ingredients: 6
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 591.47 ml plain flour
• 591.47 ml wholemeal flour
• 3.69 ml baking soda
• 3.69 ml salt
• 14.79 ml butter
• 414.03 ml buttermilk

directions

1. Preheat oven to 190°C Sprinkle a teaspoon of the plain flour over the centre of a baking tray and set aside. Put 2 teaspoons of plain flour into a small bowl and set bowl aside.
2. Meanwhile, put the remaining plain flour, wholemeal flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl and mix well with your hands to combine.
3. Add the butter, breaking it up into small pieces with your fingers, and mix it into the flour mixture until combined.
4. Make a well in the centre of the flour-butter mixture and add the buttermilk.
5. Slowly add the buttermilk into the mixture with your hands until a rough ball forms.
6. Turn the mixture out on a lightly floured surface and form into a neat ball (without kneading).
7. Transfer the dough to the centre of the baking tray and press gently to form a 20cm-wide round.
8. Using a sharp knife, slash a cross 1cm deep across the entire top of the loaf and then dust the top of the loaf with the reserved flour.
9. Bake until the bread is light golden and a tap on the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow, about 60 minutes. N.B. Oven temperatures do vary so keep an eye on its baking -- some oven's may take less and other's longer.
10. Wrap the bread in a clean tea-towel, and allow to cool for about 2 hours.
11. Slice and serve at room temperature or toasted, with a generous dollop of butter.

Reviews

[The Flying Chef]

This is so quick and easy to make... It reminds me of Irish soda bread.. I have my aunt here at the moment and her husband is Irish and the first thing that she said when she tasted it was.. "This is just like Irish soda bread, oh yum have not had this in ages." The description is right that it is like a giant scone in its texture, it would pair very well in winter with a good hearty soup and then this bread to dip in it.. It is summer here and I made it to go with a platter that we were having on the terrace.. It was tried with both savoury and sweet toppings and as it is a little drier than conventional bread mixes the consensus was that it was great spread with butter and jam, my son had it with peanut butter and jam not my favourite but he liked it. There was also those who had it topped with honey, I personally just like it with some butter but I so love my butter.. This definitely deserves 5 stars just for the ease of preparation but the bread itself just turned out so well and so rustic looking, just from a country kitchen which I loved. The only minor flaw I found with the recipe was the cooking time. I checked on it a few times and then after about 45 min's I really thought it was looking done so decided to remove from the oven.. I am so glad that I did as any longer and it would have been well overcooked and very dry.. A great and simple recipe to make that turns out perfect and tastes awesome too. I will definitely be making this one again and I will look forward to trying it with some soup in winter.. Thanks for sharing Tis a winner for us!!!