Sottish Buttermilk Sodabread Recipe

When most people think of sodabread they immediately think 'Irish'. However, almost every region of the British Isles has its own twist on soda bread (after all, these breads only evolved after the invention of baking powder in the 1820s) and the recipe presented here today is for a traditional Scottish version of the bread.

Buttermilk Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

500g (1 lb) plain flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
30g (1 oz) butter
500ml buttermilk (if you do not have buttermilk, make sour milk by mixing 2 tbsp lemon juice or wine vinegar into 500ml whole milk)

Method:

Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt and sugar in a bowl. Dice the butter, add to the dry ingredients and lightly rub in with your fingertips.

Add the buttermilk and mix to a light, soft, dough. Divide the dough in half and shape both into rounds on a lightly-floured work surface.

Arrange on a greased baking tray, transfer to an oven pre-heated to 210ºC (425ºF) and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the base.

Serve warm, sliced and spread with butter.

To me, the bread as it is is a little bland (I have given the traditional version above) so I add a handful of rolled oats (a very Scottish addition).

To use as little buns to serve with soup, add 1 tbsp milk curry powder to the dough mixture, divide into 6 buns and bake for about 15 minutes.

This really is a very versatile basic mixture and you can do a lot with it.

For more traditional Scottish recipes, see the Celtnet Scottish Recipes collection, with over 320 traditional Scottish recipes.

For all the British recipes on this blog, see the British Recipes collection page.

I'm currently working on a number of books of classic British cookery from all the regions of the British Isles and the first of these will be on Sottish cookery. It's expected that the book will be available in eBook format by the end of next week and in paperback by the first week of December. Look out for more announcements on this Blog!

UPDATE! The book has been published!
This recipe and over 500 other traditional Scottish recipes are found in my new eBook, Classic Scottish Recipes, which can be purchased via Amazon using the link on the left.

The book also contains information on Hogmanay (Scottish New Year) and Burns Night, including the full order of service for a Burns Supper. In addition there are cocktail recipes for Hogmanay and extra recipes for Hogmanay so that you can host a classic dinner or party.

The most comprehensive collection of Scottish recipes available anywhere!