Irish Cheddar and Green Onion Soda Bread

If you like to make bread, this soda bread can be made with any combination that you like. For instance, this recipe is made with a dubliner cheese which tastes like a mild cheddar and green onions, but you could switch those out for bacon and sun-dried tomatoes. Or caraway seeds with raisins. Let your imagination go wild. Makes 1 loaf.

Ingredients:

1 lb (2 2/3rd cups) unbleached all-purpose flour + extra for dusting
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup dubliner cheese, grated
4 green onions, finely chopped
12 oz (1 1/2 cups) buttermilk

No buttermilk: you can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per cup of milk; then let it sit for 5-10 minutes.

Directions:

Preheat oven 450F with the rack placed in the center of the oven. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Make a “well” in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the cheese and green onions. Add in the buttermilk and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Once the dough binds together transfer to a floured surface and knead until it’s no longer sticky. Form into a round shape roughly 6” in diameter. Place on a nonstick baking sheet and cut a deep cross in the top.

Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 400F and bake another 20-25 minutes, or until golden and crusty. It should sound hallow when tapped on the bottom. If not, it’s not done. Once done let cool on a wire rack 20 minutes. Best eaten while still warm. Slice and serve with butter. Yum Yum!