Soda Bread

We took this from a book called 'Making bread at home' which lists bread recipes from around the world. It's the nicest soda bread recipe I've made to date. It's quick, it's super easy and it doesn't require any rising or yeast.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 225  g  white plain flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 15  g butter
• 15  g white sugar
• 150  ml buttermilk (or half milk, half water, plus 1/4 tsp cream of tartar)
• 1  small egg

Directions

1. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cream tartar and salt into a bowl.
2. Rub in the butter and the sugar.
3. Mix the buttermilk (or milk/water mix) in with the small egg and add to the flour mixture.
4. Mix lightly, then turn out onto a lightly-floured surface.
5. With clean and floured hands, bring into an approximate ball - do not work the dough too much.
6. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
7. Place the dough ball on a greased baking sheet and cover with a 'bonnet' (a saucepan or tin that is larger than the loaf).
8. Bake for 30 minutes with the bonnet on, and then remove it and cook for a further 15 minutes.