Cheesy Irish soda bread
Irish soda bread flavored with cheese and herbs is the perfect, easy bread to serve with hearty stews or soups. It’s also delicious served simply with butter and the ultimate side dish for St. Patrick’s day.
I am a big fan of easy, no-knead quick bread recipes. They make great side dishes and are perfect for snacks or quick meals. This cheesy herbed Irish soda bread is my latest obsession. Not only does this bread take all of 10 minutes to throw together, but it bakes quickly and you’re guaranteed a delicious loaf that you’ll want to devour in one sitting.
This Irish Soda Bread is incredibly versatile. You can flavor it with different cheeses, herbs, fried onions, roasted garlic and even sun-dried tomatoes will all work perfectly in this loaf. I’ve kept it simple and classic with cheese and herbs. The rest of the ingredients are all pantry/fridge staples, making this Irish soda bread recipe even more convenient.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Flour: All purpose flour.
- Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda).
- Salt.
- Buttermilk. The buttermilk creates a tender crumb and activates the baking soda and is a key ingredient. Milk with a few tablespoons of vinegar or fresh lemon juice mixed in can be used as substitute.
- Egg.
- Grated cheddar cheese.
- Fresh herbs. I used fresh parsley, sage and chives but thyme, rosemary and dried oregano will all be delicious.
How to make Irish soda bread
- Make the dough: Stir together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix to combine. Whisk together the wet ingredients then pour into the dry ingredients and slowly bring the dough together until just combined. Don’t overmix.
- Add the cheese and herbs: Gently add the grated cheese and herbs then knead on a lightly floured surface until the dough just comes together in a round ball. The dough will be sticky and should look quite shaggy, not smooth at all.
- Bake: Transfer the dough to a cast iron pot/Dutch oven line with baking paper. Score the top with a sharp knife and place the lid on top. You could bake the loaf on a baking sheet too but for a nicely round loaf, a pot works well. Bake for 30-45 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when knocked on the bottom. A skewer inserted should also come out clean.
- Cool and serve: Remove the baked loaf from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pot. Turn out onto a wire rack and cool for another 15-20 minutes then slice and serve with lots of butter.
Can I make this ahead?
It’s best eaten fresh but Irish soda bread will last 3-4 days wrapped in wax paper and foil. Stale bread can be served toasted.
Serving Suggestions
Irish soda bread is the perfect side dish to rich stews and soups. It’s also a delicious snack or quick meal served with butter and jam. Top it with a fried egg for a quick breakfast.
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 1½ tsp baking soda/bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups (500ml) buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- ½ cup fresh herbs, chopped (I used parsley, sage and chives)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC/360ºF and line a Dutch oven/cast iron pot with baking/parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Whisk an egg into the buttermilk and pour into the dry ingredients.
- Mix the dough until it just starts to come together (there will be large lumps) then add the cheese and herbs.
- Continue mixing until the dough just comes together. The dough will be sticky and shaggy looking (not too smooth or else it will be over-mixed).
- Transfer to the prepared pot then score a cross onto the top with a sharp knife. Cover with the lid and place in the pre-heated oven.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes or until the bread is cooked through. It will sound hollow when knocked on the bottom and a skewers inserted will come out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving with butter.
Question- can you use bread flour?
The bread might be slightly heavier/denser but the flavor will still be good.
Great tasting and quick and easy to make.
Can whole milk be used in place of buttermilk?
Yes, just add a tablespoon of lemon juice.
Hi! Quick question, when you say 1 t salt, do you mean 1 tbsp? Just want to make sure I’m not over salting the bread. Can’t wait to make it with some soup this weekend!!
1 teaspoon 🙂
I’m allergic to egg yolk. Do you have a way to avoid the egg please?
I haven’t tested this recipe without the egg so I can’t guarantee the bread will turn out the same but most often egg just adds moisture and richness to bread recipes so it should be fine.
You can sub any of these: 1/4 cup crushed banana, 1/4 cup apple sauce or 1 tablespoon finely ground flax seeds added to 3 tablespoons warm water and allowed to sit for 10 minutes for adding