Irish Soda Breads, Chia Seed Jam and Pesto Toastie

Cheese and Onion Irish Soda Bread

Makes one loaf- Serves 6-8

Ingredients

250g – 9 oz. All Purpose

250g- 9 oz.  Whole Wheat flour

100g- 3.5 oz Parmesan, finely grated

150g- 5 oz. cheddar, coarsely grated

½ each Sauteed onion, diced small

2 Tablespoons of Unsalted Butter

1 tsp fine salt

1 tsp Baking Soda

400ml- 14 oz. Full Fat buttermilk

1.         Preheat the oven to 425°F

2.        Sauté the onion in butter on low heat until it caramelizes (20 minutes)

3.        Put the flour, cheese and onion into a large bowl and mix well. Mix in the salt and Baking Soda

4.        Make a well in the center and pour in half the buttermilk. Using your fingers or a round-bladed knife, draw the flour into the buttermilk. Continue to add the buttermilk until all the flour has been absorbed and you have a sticky dough. You may not need all the buttermilk – it depends on the flour you use.

5.        Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, shape it into a ball and flatten it slightly with the palm of your hand. It is important to work quickly, as once the buttermilk is added it begins to react with the baking soda

6.        Put the dough on the baking tray. Cut the dough into quarters, making sure each of the quarters is still touching. Dust the top with flour.

7.        7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the base. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Chocolate and Stout Irish Soda Bread

Makes one loaf- Serves 6-8

Ingredients

50g- 2 oz. unsalted butter

50g- 2 oz. honey

80g- 3 oz. light brown sugar

150ml 5 oz. stout, Dark Beer (Rest of the can is to enjoy😉)

250g- 9 oz. all-purpose flour

250g – 9oz. whole wheat bread flour

30g- 1 oz. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

150g- 6 oz. Dark Chocolate chips

200ml- 7 oz. buttermilk

Method

1.         Heat the oven to 400°F

2.        Place the butter, honey and sugar into a small pan and place it over a low heat, stirring regularly until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the stout. Leave to cool.

3.        Place the flours, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt into a large mixing bowl and stir in the chocolate chunks. Stir in the stout mixture and the buttermilk and keep stirring until it starts to come together to a soft, slightly sticky dough. Then, place the dough on a lightly floured worktop and shape it into a round loaf, taking care not to overwork it.

4.        Place the loaf on a baking sheet and, using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross in the top. Bake for 30–40 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the base. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Chia Seed Jam- Strawberry

Ingredients  

·         1 cup trimmed strawberries, frozen or fresh

·         1 Tablespoon chia seeds

·         ½ Tablespoon lemon juice

·         stevia, maple syrup or honey (to taste)

Instructions 

·         Add strawberries to a saucepan over medium-high heat and cook until the berries start to break down and the mixture is bubbling. You can use the back of a spoon or potato masher to mash the berries and create your desired consistency.

·         Stir in the chia seeds and lemon juice. Then taste and add sweetener if desired. If your berries are sweet, you might not need to add any sweetener at all.

·         Remove mixture from heat and let the mixture cool and thicken, about 5 to 10 minutes.

·         You can use it right away or let cool completely before transferring it to sealed container and placing in chia jam in your refrigerator. The jam will stay for up to 1 week.

Homemade Irish Soda Bread Toasty with Pesto

Makes 4 Sandwiches

For the soda bread- or use the Cheese and Onion Soda Bread

·         2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading and dusting

·         3/4 teaspoon baking soda

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

·         1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

·         2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For assembling the grilled cheese:

·         8 slices Irish cheddar cheese or Cheese of you choosing

·         1/3 cup store-bought or homemade basil pesto

·         Butter

1.                     Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

2.                    In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and caraway seeds. Stir in the buttermilk and melted butter with a rubber spatula, scraping down the sides until the ingredients are just combined.

3.                    Transfer the dough to a well-floured surface and knead it 6 times, just until it comes together into a 6-inch round. The dough will still be sticky.

4.                    Cut a large X in the top of the round and place the loaf of a baking sheet. Dust it with 1 teaspoon of flour and bake it for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.

5.                    Transfer the loaf to a rack and cool it completely before cutting it into slices.

6.                    When ready to assemble the grilled cheese, spread 4 slices of the soda bread with the prepared basil pesto, and then add a few slices of the Irish cheddar. Form sandwiches by topping off each slathered side with a second piece of bread and then butter both exterior sides of the bread.

7.                    Heat a skillet over medium heat and transfer the prepared sandwiches to the pan, searing them just until golden on one side. Flip the sandwiches once to brown the second side and continue melting the cheese. If necessary, cover the pan to ensure the cheese melts. Cut the grilled cheese and serve warm.