Soda bread
An Irish soda farl, made by cutting a flattened round of dough into four pieces, then baking | |
| Type | Quick bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Ireland |
| Created by | Irish |
| Main ingredients | Flour, sodium bicarbonate, salt, buttermilk |
Soda bread is a variety of quick bread made in many cuisines in which sodium bicarbonate (otherwise known as "baking soda", or in Ireland, "bread soda") is used as a leavening agent instead of yeast. The basic ingredients of soda bread are flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. The buttermilk contains lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to form bubbles of carbon dioxide. Other ingredients can be added, such as butter, egg, raisins, or nuts. Quick breads can be prepared quickly and reliably, without requiring the time and labor needed for kneaded yeast breads.