Ingredients

• 225 g strong white bread flour
• 225 g flour, wholemeal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 300 ml buttermilk, or skimmed milk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to Gas Mark 8 / 230°C / 450°F. Dust a baking sheet with a little flour.
  
  
• Mix together flours, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a large mixing bowl. Stir in buttermilk or skimmed milk. Mix together to make a soft dough.
  
  
• Turn dough on to a floured surface. Knead lightly for a few moments. Shape into a round, dust with flour and lift on to the baking sheet. Cut a deep cross in the top of the loaf.
  
  
• Bake in for about 45 minutes, then remove and wrap loosely in a clean tea towel to keep the crust moist.

Chef Tips

• Buttermilk is a by-product of butter making. You can often find it in the chill cabinet at health food shops - though if you have trouble finding it, use skimmed milk instead.
  
  Soda bread doesn’t require kneading in the same way that ordinary bread does - just a minute or two of light kneading is all that’s necessary.