Making Traditional Soda Bread

• History
• Primary Education

How is traditional soda bread made?

When you see this symbol...

Use what you already know 

Learn some new facts!

Get ready to take part

Reflect on what you have learned

There are only four ingredients in traditional soda bread!

Which two ingredients are NOT needed?

1. Flour and buttermilk
2. Bicarbonate of soda and salt
3. Sugar and eggs
4. Salt and flour

Soda bread ingredients:

1. Flour

2. Bicarbonate of soda

3. Salt

4. Buttermilk

What is buttermilk?

1. Cream cheese
2. The liquid left behind after churning butter
3. The name of a band
4. A milkshake

What equipment did people in the early 1900s
use to bake soda bread?

1. Microwave
2. Griddle pan
3. Toaster
4. Oven

The griddle pan hung over the fire on an apparatus called the crook and the hook.

Temperature could be adjusted by raising or lowering the griddle, and a dusting of flour prevented burning.

For centuries, the open fire or hearth was the principal means of heating and cooking in Ireland.

In the early 1900s, If the family needed hot water, it was heated up over the fire in a  large kettle like this one. 

Almost all daily activities were centred around the hearth. It had to be kept in good working order to cook food, clean and dry clothes.

In single room homes, the beds were often right beside the hearth.  Traditionally, an elderly parent or parents occupied this bed. On the hearth side, it was often closed off with a curtain or timber

doors.

Let's find out more about a traditional hearth...

What kitchen tools do you think are used to make soda bread?

Some kitchen tools used to make soda bread...

Flour is used to make sure the soda bread dough doesn't stick to the surface of the griddle.

Did you know that a goose wing was often used to sweep flour across the griddle when making soda bread!?

The soda bread dough has been shaped into four soda 'farls' and is ready to be baked over the fire...

Can you put each step into the correct order?

Soda bread can be made in a few simple steps!

STEP 1: Mixing the ingredients

STEP 2: Shaping the dough

STEP 3: Cutting into farls

STEP 4: Baking

STEP 5: Serving

What do you think goes well with
freshly baked soda bread?

Just butter

Butter and jam

Cheese

Plain!

Make your own recipe card!

Why not create your own recipe card for traditional soda bread, using what you have learned today?

How did you enjoy this lesson?

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