Healthy Regional Recipes Healthy European Recipes Healthy British and Irish Recipes Healthy Irish Recipes Whole-Wheat Irish Soda Bread 4.9 (9) 9 Reviews Soda breads are hearty Irish staples—wholemeal flour with large flakes of bran and wheat germ, or white flour or a mixture leavened with baking soda and moistened with buttermilk. The acid in the buttermilk reacts with the baking soda, which is an alkali, creating bubbles of carbon dioxide that rise the bread. Soda breads have the heft of a yeast bread but are made in minutes and the dough can be shaped into scones or a round loaf, depending on the occasion. Originally, it would have been baked in a bastible (pot oven) over an open fire. By Darina Allen Updated on August 6, 2024 Tested by Learn more about our food philosophy and nutrition parameters." tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> EatingWell Test Kitchen Tested by EatingWell Test Kitchen The EatingWell Test Kitchen is comprised of a group of culinary professionals who develop and test our recipes. Our recipes go through a rigorous process, which includes testing by trained recipe testers, using different equipment (e.g., gas and electric stoves) and a variety of tools and techniques to make sure that it will really work when you make it at home. Testers shop major supermarkets to research availability of ingredients. Finally, a Registered Dietitian reviews each recipe to ensure that we deliver food that's not only delicious, but adheres to our nutrition guidelines as well. Learn more about our food philosophy and nutrition parameters. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD Reviewed by Dietitian Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD Christa Brown is a registered dietitian and business owner with a practice focus on diabetes management and content development for brands and fitness influencers. She is a licensed dietitian with a Master of Science in Nutrition Education and a certification in gut health by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Cook Time: 10 mins Additional Time: 1 hr 20 mins Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Servings: 12 Yield: 2 -pound loaf Nutrition Profile: Low-Fat High-Fiber Vegetarian Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe Nutrition Notes Is whole-wheat soda bread good for you? Whole-wheat soda bread is a healthy addition to your plate! One serving—a 1/2-inch-thick slice—provides complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, protein, fiber and vitamins and minerals. Per serving, the whole-wheat flour in this recipe provides about 10% of your daily fiber needs—and fiber has numerous health benefits, including a healthier gut and more regular bowel movements. It also helps keep you full and satisfied. Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! Where did soda bread originate? According to many historians, the earliest recipes for soda bread were published in the early 1800s in the United Kingdom. And some say that Native Americans were leavening bread with pearlash (a byproduct of wood ash) well before that. Is bread soda the same as baking soda? Yes, it’s the same thing. Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate, which is a combination of baking soda, monocalcium phosphate and corn starch. This powdered trifecta and the chemical reaction that happens when it’s introduced to a liquid is what gives a good rise, crumb and fluff in breads and other baked goods. Frequently Asked Questions Can soda bread be made ahead? Yes, but we think the flavor and texture of soda bread are best when eaten the day it’s baked. Plus, it's a kind of bread that can get stale sooner than regular bread. You can make it a couple of days beforehand (no need to refrigerate it), and you can freeze slices for a few months, but you might want to toast the bread after doing this. Be sure to store the soda bread in an airtight container or wrap it well. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 2 cups whole-wheat flour 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 ¼ cups buttermilk Directions Preheat the oven to 450°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle with a little flour. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk. Using one hand, stir in full circles (starting in the center of the bowl working toward the outside of the bowl) until all the flour is incorporated. The dough should be soft but not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, in a matter of seconds, turn it out onto a well-floured surface. Clean the dough off your hand. Pat and roll the dough gently with floury hands, just enough to tidy it up and give it a round shape. Flip over and flatten slightly to about 2 inches. Transfer the loaf to the prepared baking sheet. Mark with a deep cross using a serrated knife and prick each of the 4 quadrants. Bake the bread for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and continue to bake until the loaf is brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped, 30 to 35 minutes more. Transfer the loaf to a wire rack and let cool for about 30 minutes. Tips Easy cleanup: Recipes that require cooking spray can leave behind a sticky residue that can be hard to clean. To save time and keep your baking sheet looking fresh, line it with a layer of foil before you apply the cooking spray. Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, April/May 2005 Rate It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 185 Calories 1g Fat 37g Carbs 8g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 12 Serving Size 1/2-inch-thick slice Calories 185 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 37g 13% Dietary Fiber 3g 11% Total Sugars 2g Protein 8g 15% Total Fat 1g 2% Saturated Fat 0g 2% Cholesterol 2mg 1% Vitamin A 22IU 0% Vitamin C 1mg 1% Folate 2mcg 1% Sodium 386mg 17% Calcium 67mg 5% Iron 2mg 8% Magnesium 5mg 1% Potassium 179mg 4% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Linda Frahm Linda Frahm Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines