It doesn’t get much more Irish than homemade soda bread. Toss in a few slices of creamy white cheddar and a dollop of bright green basil pesto and you’ve just thrown a St. Patrick’s Day party in your mouth.
If the words “yeast,” “proofing” and “doubles in size” make you weak in the knees, then have no fear because this quickbread comes sans all the stress of traditional homemade carbs. We’re talking 40 minutes from raw flour to tender slices of soda bread. All that’s missing is a cold glass of Guinness.
This year I’ll be spending St. Patrick’s Day in sunny Orlando at Food Blog Forum, where I’m hosting a discussion about recipe writing and development with the talented Jennifer Perillo of In Jennie’s Kitchen. I attended my first Food Blog Forum this past October in Nashville, and I had such a blast that I couldn’t resist heading south for another sun-soaked, food-filled weekend. I’m looking forward to catching up with old friends, meeting many new foodies and, of course, getting my fill of Walt Disney World’s turkey legs and churros. The happiest place on Earth better brace itself for the hungriest girl in the universe.
Ingredients
For the soda bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading and dusting
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon caraway seeds
- 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For assembling the grilled cheese:
- 8 slices Irish cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup store-bought or homemade basil pesto
- Butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- 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.
- 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. (See Kelly's Notes.)
- 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.
- Transfer the loaf to a rack and cool it completely before cutting it into slices. (See Kelly's Notes.)
- 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. (See Kelly's Notes.)
- 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 will melt. Cut the grilled cheese and serve warm.
Kelly's Notes:
- Every time I make this bread I find it gets better and better with the less you knead it. Many soda breads are often not kneaded at all prior to baking.
- The loaf will provide more than 8 slices of bread, but I like to use the leftovers to make homemade soda bread croutons, which I toss with a bit of olive oil and fresh garlic.
- I've become a bit of a grilled cheese connoisseur over the years and have found that you get much more even browning if you butter the bread first, rather than place the prepared sandwiches in a pan of melted butter.
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Soda bread recipe adapted from Gourmet Live.
My Irish eyes are smiling…this soda bread will become an instant family favorite, My boys are married and I can’t wait for them to visit so I can make this for them! We will love it as simple breakfast toast to glorious cheese sandwiches with so many variations, we will come up with more varieties, I am sure. Thank you for such a fun and unusual bread recipe! I love making all breads, and Soda Bread was a new one for me. With me being Irish and all, what fun on St. Paddy’s Day!
Yay! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Carol!
Can’t believe that I never thought of this before. Amazing….thanks moved to the top of my short list of recipes to try IMMEDIATELY. I have ALL the ingredients including pesto. My mouth is watering. And I think I can maybe just buy a few slices of good corned beef at the deli and have corned beef with my grilled cheese. Though I am not sure I will give up my colcannon….
Thanks so MUCH. happy holiday.
You are so welcome, Judy! Enjoy!
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Adding you now! Thanks so much for your readership, Li!
I will make this soda bread, then the sandwich!! Looks delicious…
Enjoy!
To die for! The soda bread is marvelous. Thank you
Thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Pam!
I saw recipes on your sight very flavorful!
This Bread can be compared to – succeedingly success of a succeeded success.
Thanks.