Irish Brown Soda Bread

Ingredients:

• 12oz Organic stone-ground wholemeal flour
• 1/2 tsp unrefined / unprocessed sea salt
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of Soda
• 1/2 pint Raw soured milk (not pasteurised)
• Optional extra - tablespoon of softened unsalted organic butter or extra virgin olive oil

Preparation time:

• 15 minutes

Cooking time:

• 10 - 30 minutes (depending on type of oven - fan assisted will take the shortest time)

Method: Pre-heat your oven to 200C/ Gas mark 6/ 400 F.

• Tip the flour, salt & soda into a large mixing bowl and stir.
• Make a hole in the centre of the mixture and gradually add the sour milk, mix quickly and it should begin to form a soft dry dough. You may add a little butter or Olive oil if the dough seems too stiff but it should be a dry dough mix and not sticky.
• Place onto a lightly floured surface, flour your hands up, then knead very briefly, dont handle it too much, it needs to look rustic.
• Form into a round shape and flatten it very slightly
• Prepare a tray with lightly floured baking sheet on top
• Cut a cross on the top but don't press the knife too hard
• Bake for about 30 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when you tap the bottom.
• Cool on a wire rack and serve with butter & condiments of your choice.