by Ben Hymowitz
Every year, around the time of St Paddy’s Day, various Irish foods appear at supermarkets. Items like corned beef and Irish sausages are frequently found, but one item that is particularly popular is Irish soda bread.
Irish soda bread is a staple in Irish cuisine. The bread is made using flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk. The lactic acid in the buttermilk reacts with the baking soda creating carbon dioxide. Optional additions like raisins and nuts create a further depth of flavor.
I have tasted soda breads that were bread-like, which are chewier, and ones that were more scone-like, which are more crumbly. I tend to prefer the bread-like one because you can easily spread things like butter or jam on it.
I give the “bread-like” soda bread a 8.6/10 and the more “scone-like” one a 7.5/10. Both are definitely Hymo approved.
