U.S.: This is how the Irish emigrants to America made soda bread, since there were more ingredients readily available. See the Irish Soda Bread for a more traditional recipe, and a lovely video by the Irish Julia Child, Darina Allen.

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 3 Tbsp Caraway seeds
• 2 cups golden raisins
• 400ml kefir (buttermilk is what’s called for, but it’s not as thick as the kind made in the U.K.)
• about 1-3/4 cup buttermilk (400ml) – I use Kefir – it’s thicker than US buttermilk

See the video for instructions. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees before your begin, so you can get it in as soon as the batter is mixed. And it bakes for about 30 ~ 35 minutes.

March 2021 Update

Strawberry Cardamon Soda bread (1 loaf)

1.Mix together the dry ingredients

• 4 cups white flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cardamon

2. Mix together the wet ingredients

• 400 ml buttermilk or Kefir (about 1-3/4 cup)
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1-1/2 cups chopped strawberries

3. Add the liquid to the dry
4. Mix with your hand
5. Shape into 2 loaves
6. Score down the middle