Irish Soda Bread

As the name suggests, Irish Soda Bread is specialty of Ireland. It is quick bread made with  baking soda instead of yeast to leaven. Hence the name Soda bread. Here in the US. we see it a lot around St. Patrick's Day in March. This is my first attempt in making this bread. It has turned out well. I love to eat a slice of the soda bread with a generous amount of Irish butter.

Ingredients:
4 Cups all purpose flour, plus additional for currants
4 Tbsp. sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
4 Tbsp.(half a stick)cold butter,cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 Cups buttermilk, shaken
1 extra large egg, lightly whisked
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 Cup currants

Method:
1. Pre-heat oven to 375o F. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet.
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in the mixer fitted with kneading paddle.
3. Set the mixer on low, add butter and mix well.
4. Beat egg, buttermilk and orange zest together in a bowl.
5. Gently add the mixture to the mixer set on low and knead till everything comes together.
6. Mix 1 Tbsp. flour to the currants and add it to the dough.
7. Remove from the bowl. Gently knead on a floured board to form a ball. Flatten it to 6 inch diameter and 2 inch thick. Place it on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a cake stick inserted comes out clean and the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on wire rack.
8. Serve warm with butter.