Irish Brown Bread is a baking soda leavened bread made with whole wheat and white flours, plus bulgur wheat for added chewiness and crunch.
Irish Brown Bread
By Sue Lau | Palatable Pastime
Irish Brown Bread is my recipe of the day with the Bread Bakers blogging group. We bake once per month on changing topics.This month we are doing brown breads of various sorts.
Irish brown breads are naturally rugged, homely looking loaves, but quite delicious. Mine is made with a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour, with partially cooked bulgur wheat thrown into the mix for a little bit of chew.
You should have a butt-ugly, round, dense loaf when you are done, which loves a good schmear of Irish butter and a drizzle of something like honey, Lyle’s golden syrup, treacle or molasses. It’s the taste that counts, right?
At least all the Irish brown bread I saw online was just as ugly as mine, so whatever.
Bread Bakers
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Irish Brown Bread
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Irish Brown Bread

Irish Brown Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mill Quick Cooking Bulgur
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 11 fluid ounces buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Grease an 8-inch cast iron skillet, enameled baking pan or cake pan.
- Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan and add bulgur.
- Cook for 6 minutes, then remove from heat and drain in a strainer.
- Stir together the flours, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Add the drained cooked bulgur and stir until the flour coats it evenly.
- Add buttermilk and mix into a shaggy dough.
- Shape into a ball and drop into the greased pan; slice an "x" across the top with a serrated knife.
- Bake for 70-75 minutes or until the internal temperature is 185F.
- Serve slices with butter and honey, treacle/molasses or golden syrup.
Notes
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It’s not so ugly! Can you believe I’ve never made Irish soda bread or even tried it. I’ll have to remedy that.
I did cut a little deep on the first cut and had to match the slice so it ended up looking like a mountain with rocky crags. But it’s not noticeable after it’s sliced to serve.
Irish brown bread is in my do list, need to to try I will try your recipe. perfect and delicious.
I’ve been having Irish Bread cravings – I just bought a block of Irish cheddar, now I need the bread to go with it. This one looks perfect!
LOVED your description! Had me laughing out loud. I can totally taste this with a spread of butter and golden syrup. MMMMMMM
Yes, the Lyle’s syrup is fantastic. Which reminds me I need to stock up on it. I use that in a number of things for holiday baking.
A great bread to have with a bowl of soup. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I made soda bread for N over the summer and now he’s hooked! It is a perfect treat
Can’t beat it as an easy to make bread!
I find your bread very beautiful Sue. And a generous smear of butter with a drizzle of honey is the best pairing for a whole wheat bread.