Irish Brown Bread Recipe: A Generational Treat from Chef Catherine Fulvio

This traditional Irish Brown Bread recipe (or as North Americans might call it, Irish Soda Bread) comes from the family kitchen of Ireland’s celebrated, Daytime Emmy-nominated chef and award-winning food writer, Catherine Fulvio of Ballyknocken Cookery School, Co. Wicklow. Passed down through generations, the recipe originated with her Catherine’s grandmother, was passed down to her mother, Mary, and we were lucky enough for her to share it with us! Feel the warmth and tradition of Irish home baking in your very own kitchen.

Mary’s Brown Bread

Ingredients

• 225g / 8 oz plain white flour
• 225g / 8 oz stone ground whole meal (whole wheat) flour
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tsp / 5 ml of Bread Soda (Baking Soda)
• 1 tbsp / 15 ml of oil (a non scented oil – i.e. no olive oil) or Irish butter
• ¾ pint / 420 ml / 15 fl oz buttermilk
• Decoration: Oatmeal

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 210˚-220˚C / 425˚F
2. Oil a 900g / 2 lb loaf tin
3. Mix the dry ingredients well, making sure to get air into the flour. Be sure to sieve the bread soda as any lumps will result in green bread, rather than brown bread.
4. Add oil and most of the milk and mix. The texture should be that of “medium thick oatmeal”. When lifted up on a wooden spoon, it should “plop off” – if it doesn’t fall of the spoon, add more milk. If it runs off the spoon, add more flour!
5. Put the mixture into a pre-oiled or buttered loaf tin and sprinkle the oatmeal on top.
6. Place the loaf tin in the center of the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes. After the loaf is done baking, it should be easily removable from the loaf tin and should sound hollow when tapped underneath. This means that it is cooked to perfection!
7. Allow to cool
8. Make yourself a nice cup of tea, then enjoy this delicious bread with some tasty smoked Irish salmon, some local (or Irish cheese), or simply with homemade jam and (of course) Irish butter.