I mentioned a fragrant, magnificent soda bread recipe on the air and a faithful listener called to ask for the details. Here you are…and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Rosemary Brown Butter Soda Bread
makes 2 loaves
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper plus additional for topping
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
1 egg white, beaten to blend
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Stir butter in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. (This is a slightly tricky step. Watch the butter like a hawk. As soon as the solids that fall to the bottom of the pan when the butter melts turn a carmel-like brown, remove the butter from the heat. Also, I throw my chopped rosemary and ground pepper into the butter as soon as it has browned to make the flavors bloom.)
Stir flour, oats, sugar, rosemary, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl to blend. Pour buttermilk and melted browned butter over flour mixture; stir with fork until flour mixture is moistened.
Turn dough out onto floured work surface. Knead gently until dough comes together, about 7 turns. Divide in half. Shape each half into ball; flatten each into 6-inch round. Place rounds on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 5 inches apart. Brush tops with beaten egg white. Sprinkle lightly with ground black pepper. Using small sharp knife, cut 1/2-inch-deep X in top of each dough round.
Bake breads until deep golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool breads on rack at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Baker’s Wisdom:
You’ll get the most tender soda bread by kneading the dough gently and briefly, just until it comes together, so the gluten is minimally developed.
This day last year, quite by accident, I received one of the greatest gifts of my season . After sharing a memory of my own, I invited you to share yours. Before I knew it, stories began pouring in from WDAV’s listeners. It was a joy and a privilege to share them on the air. With your help, I’d like to do it again this Christmas Eve. If you have a Christmas memory to share – joyful, poignant, bright, bittersweet – please do by sending me an email at jefoster@wdav.org or posting on WDAV’s facebook page. We have until 3 p.m., so may the reminiscing begin!
