This brown bread is unbelievable and I cant wait to make it myself, so thanks for the helpful tips about the ingredients. Hi Gerardine, were you able to make my brown bread recipe and sample it? Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Side Dish, Snack. I am grinding my own grains again after years of not doing so, and trying many variations on the grain (einkorn, millet, buckwheat, even chickpea) just because I think it will be a fun exploration (after, of course, I have mastered the basic version). I think its the better flour than the highly commercial products, but I can be wrong. Let me know if you make it. Once it hasrisen to the top of the pan (just like above), pop it in the oven and let it bake until almost done, then tip it out onto the rack of the oven and let it finish baking. I rushed back here to save the recipe. Jump to:Step by step photosFrequently Asked QuestionsIrish Brown Bread Recipe. If you make a purchase from a link on our site, we may receive a small percentage of that sale, at no extra cost to you. Though Irish brown bread is also a soda bread, it's a much different loaf. 'Brown bread' is the Cockney slang word for 'dead'. I used wheat germ flour from Holland and Barrett as the Irish Style flour because I could not find the brand Odlums here in Kent, UK. The Ballymaloe flour is Bakers Wholemeal, which doesnt help much unless you live in Ireland and want to buy it in 25# sacks, but The Little Mill is nowselling it in smaller bags, in the U.S. Its also nice for open-faced sandwiches, and would be a fine accompaniment to a cheese board, too. Hi Cecily, I'm excited that you're making my Brown Bread for Easter! You may add a little sugar but it shouldn't overpower the taste. . The bread is best eaten fresh, smeared with lots of good butter, or toasted for breakfast, with jam and butter. Both of these will warm you up on a cold night! 50g coarse cornmeal Pour the yeast mixture and the remaining 275ml water into the flour and stir until a batter is formed, which will have the consistency of oatmeal. It also goes by the name Spotted Dog. The recipe already needs 2 cups of whole wheat flour so I am unsure of how much more white flour is needed. I love it! Their recipe: mix (not knead) together 1 kg wholemeal SR flour, 100g butter, 40g baking powder (or 200g cream tartar and 100g bi-carb soda), 10 g salt and litre milk. Thanks! Shape the dough into a circle and place on a lined baking sheet. While the sugar included here only makes the bead very mildly sweet, the answer is yes: you can absolutely reduce or skip the sugar altogether if you prefer. You are the luckiest guy in the world to have exposure to all the fine food that you taste and bake! I was transported back to Ireland (if only with my eyes closed). So give this simple bread a try. (You don't want to over-knead this bread as it will make it tough once baked. Mix thoroughly all the dry ingredients. Hi Ali, Thanks for trying my Brown Bread! The history of this bread is supposed to be that of the poor, so I use my hands to mix it and supposedly its very Irish, or at least thats what Im told. Thank you for this recipe and the wonderful post! Thanks for those suggestions as well. I added the Irish flour to my order and have to say this is one of the best whole grain breads I've had. No commercial interest, just a fan of Jupiter. Whtat type of oats did you use? I also had a problem with the ads, finally had to disable javascript and plugins in browser just so I could read with out the page jumping up to the ad over and over. Stir together in a large bowl the Irish wholemeal flour, all-purpose flour, sugar baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Thanks!! As you said you have to experiment with the recipe and your own oven. I live in Connemara in the West of Ireland and I bake regularly. Definitely going to make this bread Thanks for this great postBUT.I dont see the discussion of fresh yeast vs. instant yeast ?? Trust me: you'll quickly fall in love with this delicious, hearty, and homey bread. Remove the bread to a cooling rack, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing. In a small mixing bowl, pour warm water over the raisins. I dont know which pictures you saw but when I bake it it looks like the ones youve posted. Im going to put in an order to King Arthur Flour next. What a thrilling find this site and your Irish brown bread! However, there are some tasty additions that you can try adding to your bread, like 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds, flax seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or poppy seeds. I grew up eating brown bread in Ireland and it's lovely to find recipes that don't depend on an expensive baking mix for success. was a constant request. Im wondering how course the settings should be for this bread, hmm. The quicker it gets to the oven the better I can taste that bread. Hungry Enough To Eat Six is comfort food and baking inspiration! We did have a fun day in Dublin, which I wrote about in another post that includes a recipe for Potato Soup: https://hungryenoughtoeatsix.com/dublin-ireland-and-a-recipe-for-creamy-potato-soup-my-latest-delectable-destination/ It is a very beautiful country, and the people there are lovely. I'm glad it brought back memories of being in Ireland for you - that's why I love to make it, too. Whisk together the egg, oil, honey and about of the milk. It is on the list as my weekend baking project, will report back with the results. Use a sharp knife to cut a cross in the top of the dough, then to poke a small hole in each corner of the bread (to let the fairies out). My husband and I are enjoying it right now. Im passionate about weighing. This one was the one! I have it in the old mini-paperback version! Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes while you mix the dough, then drain well. This recipe uses stone-ground wheat flour, which is easier to find in the U.S. from producers like Bobs Red Mill. A more unusual dish to try would be Irish pub style salmon tartlets with a nice smoky flavor and creamy texture. 2023 In any case, I appreciate that you're willing to try my recipe with our without the sugar - I hope you will write again and let me know what you think of it! Unlike other whole wheat breads that tend to have soft, unimpressive crusts, this one gets an extra-crisp exteriorfrom a special technique he showed me when the loaf was nearly finished baking. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Re coarse ground wholemeal, one solution is to buy a very reasonably priced and indestructible grain grinder from the German firm Jupiter Getreidemuehle with a choice of a stone or steel mechanism. Another idea, although I have never done this, is to make two loaves. I do not recommend a food processor, but a stand mixer. Happy St Patricks day! I have never actually measured my loaf; I would definitely try flattening it out a bit. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=bd5526af-9c84-429a-baca-e1c4e1072ef9&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "bd5526af-9c84-429a-baca-e1c4e1072ef9" }).render("7917806a0d7f4109a1cb2a4492c81a1a"); }); Adapted from my Irish brown bread recipe at Hungry Enough To Eat Six, this makes one loaf that serves 10-12 people. Jennifer: Yes, that is a great book. Some bakers like to add a couple of tablespoons of wheat or oat bran for extra flavor and nutrition. Maureen: I saw that recipe online but the picture accompanying it wasnt the same bread, which made me suspicious. Bake 15 minutes at 450F, reduce to 400F and bake another 20-25 minutes until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Add the butter and work in with your fingers until fully incorporated and there are no lumps larger than a pea. is about 340 ml. One cup is the equivalent of 120-125 grams. The dough is taken through step 4, put in the pan, and could likely be refrigerated then let come to room temperature and allowed to rise before baking. You're very welcome, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Was very hopeful about this recipe as I adore Irish brown bread, but have made it twice and am disappointed. Pour in the buttermilk mixture. Find Nancys writing and recipes at her website: Hungry Enough To Eat Six. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the liquids. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. I used a 12 grain flour from Bulk Barn (Canada), and 1 sachet of dry yeast. In most situations, an undercooked loaf of bread can be fixed by returning it to the oven for a few more minutes. Other countries, including France, mill flour finely becausethats what people prefer to making their styles of bread. P.S. Wait 5 minutes for liquid to be absorbed by the flour before baking. I am so glad you liked the recipe! Stumbled my way here while researching apricot kernels, but have been searching for a simple hearty bread recipe to use for experimentation. David- Sorry I saw the yeast discussion but I am still a little unsure as to how much dry yeast to use. 1 large egg 1 cups buttermilk, plus more as needed Directions Preheat oven to 400F. I just returned from my first trip in IrelandI was in Galway, Kinvara, and Connemara. I used their metric conversions, not mine, and can correct it if you let me know what is wrong. Thank you for sharing this with me and for giving my recipe a try! I am not really a cook. Sprinkle yeast over top and let stand until yeast is bubbly, about 5 minutes. Honestly, bread and butter, what could be better? Thank you again, -N. With regard to the crust being crunchier than expected, I learned a tip from my granny in Ireland. Which brings me to an important point: I tested the recipe a number of times and ifyou want to use other ingredients,or alter the technique, the results may not be exactly the same. Its mild flavor makes it a perfect vehicle for sweet cream butter, a dab of orange marmalade, or your favorite jam. Thank you again for trying my Brown Bread! Cuban Vaca Frita - Latin Style Flank Steak. I was surprised by Roberts comment about the toasted flavour from stonegrinding, though, as my understanding is that stoneground flour is better than rollerground because it creates less heat in the milling than roller grinding (and therefore doesnt turn the oil in the germ rancid). It sounds like it was under baked if it was heavy or sticky. Like you, I find the sweetness in this bread to be mild, just enough to work with the hearty and nutty flavor of the whole wheat. Great recipe and detail! So wholesome, hearty, real. I don't normally add sugar or baking powder when I make soda bread but I must hand it to you, it makes a huge difference. This recipe uses a combination of wholemeal and white flour. When I started experimenting with a Brown Bread recipe after visiting Ireland, I added sugar since it's normally included in quick breads. And if you want to get up at 6am, you could have it fresh for breakfast, too. I am looking forward to trying this recipe. When I ammended it, I was left with the worst brick of bread ever. Today I tried your recipe for brown soda bread and my family and I have not stopped eating it since it came out of the oven. One of the high points of going to Ireland is the Irish breakfast. Discovering restaurants, tasting bakery treats, finding inspiration in new flavors and regional specialtiesno wonder Nancy loves being a Taste of Home Community Cook and a food and travel writer. I would like to know whether I should use the "coarse" or the "extra-coarse". In France the closest flour might be semoule fine complte de bl dur ? I came across this recipe while searching for Irish brown bread. Makes a very moist brown bread (or brown cake as some call it). A digital thermometer inserted in the middle should read 200-205. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda, and salt. Whole wheat pastry flour will make a moist loaf with fine crumb; Irish-Style Flour, a more traditional open-textured, drier loaf. Gather all of the ingredients to make the Guinness brown bread. is a little more than 5 oz., as opposed to 4 oz. This recipe was adapted from: The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook. We never found raisins in Irish brown bread, but we did discover that each home cook had their own favorite add-ins, like oats, wheat germ, seeds, and nuts. Sign up for my newsletter and get my FREE guidebook to the best bakeries and pastry shops in Paris You can get Irish-style flour from the mill in Ireland (linked in the post) or from. My family loves this recipe too and we try to have this with Guinness beef stew as it is a great bread to dunk. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Turn out the contents of the bowl onto the floured surfacethe dough will still have some dry flour visible. Hi Treia, I am sorry to hear this. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Store, well-wrapped, for a couple of days at room temperature; freeze for longer storage. I doubled recipe and shaped into rounding oval 2" thickness so would fit on 1/2 sheet pan. I grew up in Ireland and the bread is definitely not this sweet. Hi! Add extra texture to traditional buttermilk brown breads with a few tablespoons of wheat germ and steel-cut oats. That was a good call to add a bit more buttermilk to help pull your dough together. Many thanks for this. People with less resources favored brown bread since it cost less to make. Heres a recipe I got from a n older neighbour. Thanks!! Thank you! Thank you so much, it's wonderful to hear from you! It's still a bit sweet so I'll try one more time with 1 T. sugar. . Lou Lou Girls. Elizabeth David says a scant teaspoon of dry yeast per pound of flour; 3 teaspoons for 4 pounds. Going to place my flour order now! Hi Hanna, Wow - when someone from Ireland says my brown bread is excellent, I consider that truly high praise! Lol. I am going to grind my own wheat berries but keep the flour a little coarser, I am sure thatll work. along the way, but thats the fun of it, right? Totally missed the part about flattening it out to about 2", so it was quite a bit thicker but just baked until it had the hollow sound. The baker in your pics looks so much like our choir conductor we had in Devon that its each time I come back like an unreal (and pleasant) shock. Wont try to make ahead! David your post reminded me of breakfast at the Australian boarding school I attended. Everytime my American wife and I go home to Ireland, the first thing we do, once we get to my home town is head straight for my local, the bridge bar for seafood chowder, brown bread and a pint of Guinness. Recipe Instructions To mix the dough: Mix all of the ingredients together, using the smaller amount of flour. Thank you for trying my recipe, and if you have time I'd love to hear more about the baking you do. It was a lovely bread, and thank you! Ive just arrived in New Zealand where the standard is not quite the same. I literally cant even read the recipe because the page automatically scrolls to the stupid ads! Slainte! Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Use about 1 tablespoon of the butter to thoroughly grease a 6.5 inch (measured from top to to) cast iron skillet. My bible is a little paperback by James Beard Beard on Bread. He sums up almost every recipe by writing that the given bread is particularly good with plenty of good, sweet butter. It was amusing to read those same words in your post, too. I used molasses/treacle in place of the sugar and was not disappointed. Put the dough in the oven and bake it for 10 minutesthen reduce the heat to 375 and bake the bread for 40 minutes longer. Hi Anam! I have been looking for a quick whole grain bread recipe and this seems to be the one. After 20 minutes, decrease the heat to 400F (200C). And I put the lid on the Dutch oven for cooking- I read that helps generate the steam to create a thick chewy crust. Step 1 Preheat oven to 425 and lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet with cooking spray (alternatively, line a large baking sheet with parchment). Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insight on an impressive blog! Like many others, I decreased the sugar to 1 tablespoon. I am excited to make this recipe thanks so much for sharing it and all the explanations it is so helpful! Sunday was white toast a real treat we thought then. I think I have just enough Odlums coarse flour left, so I cant wait to try this version. I added a tablespoon of oil. 4 tablespoons (57g) melted butter or 1/4 cup (50g) vegetable oil. Looking for more recipes? Coleen, that's a great suggestion! If there is a sizable Irish population in your area, you can find it in the international aisle. Reading your comment made me realize I'm getting low on Odlums - I'll have to order more today and get more bread in the oven! Thank you for this great recipe. My real cook wife said it was very good. Thank you for trying (and sharing) my recipe - I'm so happy to hear you like it! Follow the same method but use only half the weight given for fresh yeast.. It's no wonder that, once back home, we really missed this Irish bread! Hi David, the initial 50ml. Thanks,. Bake 15 minutes at 450F, reduce to 400F and bake another 20-25 minutes until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Have you tried it that way and how does it affect the bread? Theres no soda in it. Thanks. I am delighted to hear that you and your family like my Brown Bread, and it means so much to me that you gave it a try. Anne and LaurenC: Thanks for your feedback. I know you'll be tempted to start munching on this bread as soon as it comes out of the oven. The simplest of soda breads contained only flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda, and buttermilk. This bread looks fantastic. This recipe saved my life. Hold back, you'll need it for the stew or for your breakfast the next morning. But upon visiting my local health food store (The Food Mill, Oakland) to shop for making this bread, I learned it is in fact just whole wheat flour where the bran and germ were ground coarsely.