Soda Farl

Soda farl is an Irish bread roll made with baking soda, buttermilk and flour. Kneaded by hand, Soda Farl is highly prized by the Irish, who eat it for breakfast, lunch or tea… We love its soft crumb, light taste, and ease of preparation!

Introducing farl soda

A 100% Irish artisan bread roll

Soda Farl (also known as Soda Bread) takes its name from baking soda, an essential ingredient in the preparation of this bread, which enables the dough to rise (like yeast). Soda Farl is generally eaten plain, or with fresh butter and jam. But it can also be combined with other ingredients such as raisins, nuts or eggs…

A staple of the Irish diet, Soda Bread has not lost any of its popularity since its creation in 1840 (when sodium bicarbonate was introduced in Ireland). Many Irish households still eat it, appreciating its soft, thick crumb and inimitable taste… It has to be said that Soda Bread is one of the easiest breads to make: it doesn’t take long, and you don’t have to be a master baker to make it!

Recipe: Soda Farl

Ingredients

Number of loaves: 5
Preparation time : 10 mn
Cooking time: 45/50mn

600g white or buckwheat flour (avoid bread flour)
480mL buttermilk (or plain milk)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Optional: 100g raisins

Preparation

Pour the flour, salt and baking soda into a bowl and mix.
Then add the buttermilk or, failing that, the milk and lemon. You may also add raisins.
Knead the mixture for a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes until you obtain a homogeneous dough.
Place the dough on a floured work surface and shape into one or more balls, then flatten.
Cut out triangles (Farl), then draw a cross with the tip of a knife at the top of each triangle: this will allow your dough to rise during baking. (According to Irish beliefs, this cross also warded off evil).
All that’s left is to brown them over a very low heat in a lightly floured and oiled pan!
If you prefer to bake in the oven, you can also place it in the oven for around 45/50 minutes at 180°C. To make sure it’s cooked properly, don’t hesitate to stick a knife into it: if a semblance of soft dough remains on your knife, then the bread isn’t cooked.
Once baked, leave the bread to cool for a few minutes and enjoy warm, with a cup of Irish tea and a little jam! You’ll be hooked on this bread roll with all the bells and whistles!