Authentic 4-Ingredient Irish Bread (Printable)
Rustic Irish bread with four ingredients, golden crust, and tender crumb, ideal for meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or dust lightly with flour.
02 - Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in large mixing bowl until thoroughly blended.
03 - Create well in center of flour mixture. Pour buttermilk into well. Stir with wooden spoon until shaggy dough forms.
04 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently just until dough holds together. Shape into round, slightly flattened loaf about 2 inches thick. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.
05 - Cut deep X across top of loaf with sharp knife. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.
06 - Transfer loaf to wire rack. Cool at least 30 minutes before slicing to ensure proper texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You probably have everything in your kitchen right now, no special trips to the store needed
- The entire process takes less than an hour from start to warm, buttery finish
- That crisp crust giving way to tender interior is exactly what comfort food should taste like
02 -
- Overworking the dough is the fastest way to tough, dense bread, so handle it as little as humanly possible
- That hollow sound when you tap the bottom is your absolute best indicator that it's done baking
03 -
- Your hands are the best tools for bringing the dough together, as you can feel when it's just combined without overworking
- If the bottom of your bread browns too quickly, slide a baking sheet onto the rack below to shield it from direct heat