Irish White Soda Bread

Yield: 1 loaf
Time: 1 hour

3 c unbleached bread flour
1 tsp sea salt
¾ tsp baking soda
1 ½ c buttermilk

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F

Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl.  Make a well in the center and pour 2/3 of the buttermilk into it.  Using one hand, mix the flour into the wet ingrediients.  Add more milk to create a soft dough.  When it all comes together, turn it out onto a floured board and knead lightly for a few seconds.

Pat the dough into a round about 1″ thick and cut a ‘cross’ (X) into it.  Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread.  Bake on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.  Turn oven down to 350°F and bake for another 20 minutes.

Tap the bottom to check for doneness.  Tapping should sound hollow when bread is done.  Cool on a wire rack for ten minutes before serving.