Want to make your own bread but don’t have any yeast or sourdough starter on hand? No worries – Al’s Irish Soda Bread is for you!

430g plain flour + additional

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

75g sugar

1½ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp salt

135g dried fruit (choose from currants, sultanas, raisins)

400ml buttermilk

Method

Preheat oven to 150C. Whisk flour, bicarbonate of soda, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Stir through dried fruit then add buttermilk all at once. Combine until the mixture just clings together – the mixture should not form a smooth dough. Mould into a round loaf. Place on a lightly floured baking sheet. Dust lightly with a little additional flour. Bake for one hour in preheated oven. Remove and immediately cover with a damp towel to prevent a crust from forming.

1 loaf