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Yeast-free Buttermilk Soda Bread

This recipe has never let me down. If you want a fast and easy homemade bread recipe with a good texture and a delicious tangy flavour, this is the one for you. Because it contains no yeast, this bread is best made and consumed on the same day. The quantity makes one loaf.

• 2 cups, about 300g (11 ounces) unbleached plain flour
• 2 cups, about 300g (11 ounces) wholemeal (whole wheat) plain flour
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 cups buttermilk (or some sort of cultured or sour milk)
• sea salt flakes

Preheat the oven to 220° C / 425° F. Lightly flour a baking tray. Sift the flours, cream of tartar, bicarbonate of soda and sea salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre of the mixture.

Pour in almost all the buttermilk, then stir with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined. Feel the dough. It should be slightly sticky. If too dry, add the remaining buttermilk. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface.

Gently knead the dough for 1 minute (do not over knead).

Shape the dough into a round and place on the prepared baking tray. Cut a 1.5cm (½-inch) deep cross into the dough and sprinkle with the sea salt flakes.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden and cooked through (test with a wooden skewer - if it comes out clean, it's done).

Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Allow to cool then cover with a dampened towel until required.

Serve: break off chunks or cut into slices.

Note: you can add nuts or dried fruit to this recipe.