How to Serve Irish Soda Bread – 7 Easy Ideas!
There are few easier bakes than soda bread. No rise, no kneading, and a loaf of homemade bread from scratch in under an hour, what’s not to love? Make it once and I dare you not to fall in love with this quick bread! Well, we’ve established that Soda bread needs to be a part of your baking repertoire. So let’s talk about how to serve soda bread to get the most out of every loaf.
So what is soda bread?
A traditional Irish soda bread recipe is a really easy combination of simple, dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt) and buttermilk, mixed together in a large bowl to form a shaggy dough. Form into a round loaf, score the top of the bread, and then bake on parchment paper (on a baking sheet or cast iron skillet) until golden brown. Turn onto a wire rack and leave to cool, but not too much. Soda bread is at its best just out of the oven and still warm.
There are many versions of soda bread: with and without egg, scattered with caraway seeds, or a smattering of golden raisins throughout the loaf, etc. Personally, I like to keep mine quite simple, if a little sweeter than some with a good hint of honey. Then all it needs is a little butter on each slice. YUM.
Never made soda bread? Here are a few recipes to get started…
Now here are 7 ways to serve up soda bread every day of the year…
The Irish Way
Warm, just out of the oven, and slathered in Irish butter. Jam and honey are optional extras. While we eat soda bread in our house mainly for breakfast or dinner, soda bread really can (and should) be eaten any time of the day.
On the side of a soup or stew
Mop up all that saucy goodness! Serve a slice or two as a side dish on a pot of soup or stew. Make sure it has a good smear of butter (there should always be butter!) on it and mop away! A bowl of Irish Stew with soda bread on the side is my go-to Sunday night supper in Winter and the ultimate bowl of comfort when you’re feeling a bit under the weather.
With your weekend fry-up
An Irish breakfast isn’t an Irish breakfast without a slice of soda bread on the side of the plate. Serve a slice or two up alongside all the usual suspects… Fried eggs, bacon, pork sausage, black pudding, and beans. Thinking about something simpler? Eggs and soda bread soldiers are an easy substitute.
The BEST Sandwich
Grilled cheese, YES, please! Whether it’s a simple cheese sandwich or a skillet of bacon and fried eggs sandwiched between two slices of soda bread, you’ll end up with a cracking meal. Toasted or not toasted. I leave that decision up to you!
Soda Bread French Toast or Pudding Bake
Whip up a loaf of soda bread and turn it into a breakfast bake by adding an egg mixture of a couple of eggs and a little milk, some oven-roasted tomatoes, a handful of English spinach, ham, and cheese to a baking dish with chunks of soda bread. Then bake until cooked. Breakfast is served! Or try something sweet. Substitute the brioche with soda bread in this baked apple and pecan French toast pudding. It’s breakfast AND dessert. And yes, a scoop of ice cream is perfectly acceptable for both occasions. And yes, it’s delicious.
Croutons
I love homemade croutons in salads. Who said they can’t be made of soda bread?! cut slices of soda bread into cubes and drizzle with olive oil. Pop into a roasting tray and bake in the oven for 10 minutes to crisp them up. Caesar salad here we come!
PS, Never throw out soda bread past its best
Tare up any leftover bread and throw it into a food processor with the multipurpose blade in it. Pulse until you have soft, fluffy breadcrumbs for a schnitzel, or turn it into a DIY stuffing for a recipe like this herbs de Provence roast chicken!
