Herby Soda Bread

This is a fantastic bread recipe for these increasingly cold days when all you want to do is bake bread, but you’re out of yeast! Great with stews and soups, or straight out of the oven with butter! Throw in whatever herbs you have on hand - thyme & rosemary, and parsley & dill are good combinations.

• Herbs of your choice, picked off stems and finely chopped

• 250g plain flour

• 200g wholemeal (or atta) flour

• 1 tsp bicarb soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 & 1/3 cups buttermilk *

• extra buttermilk, for brushing

Preheat oven 200C

Mix all ingredients except for extra buttermilk until everything is incorporated. Knead lightly, but not too much.

Make dough into an oval shape, and place on baking sheet. Score the top into a cross and brush with extra buttermilk

Bake in a hot oven for around 25 mins until cooked, has a nice crust and sounds hollow when tapped

* Don’t worry too much about buttermilk, I usually make my own cheats version which works just as well. All you need to do is add 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 & 1/4 cups milk, stir and sit until needed.