Wholemeal soda bread with 'no-cook' strawberry jam

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Adam Bennett's simple soda bread recipe is well-complemented by his strawberry jam. The jam is safe for kids to get involved in making, as no actual cooking is involved - just some squishing and setting. Prepare the jam right before going to bed to serve with the freshly-baked soda bread the morning after.

First published in 2015
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Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

Strawberry jam

Soda bread

  • 50g of butter
  • 250g of wholemeal flour
  • 100g of plain flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 5g of bicarbonate of soda
  • 3g of salt
  • 5g of caster sugar
  • 250ml of buttermilk
  • 150ml of milk

Equipment

  • 8 x 24cm loaf tin

Method

1
In a bowl, crush the strawberries and stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Leave to stand for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes
2
Add the liquid pectin and stir for 3-5 minutes. Pour into a container and place in the fridge to set overnight
  • 40ml of liquid pectin
3
Once set, the jam can be stored in the fridge and used within 7 days or frozen and defrosted when required
4
For the bread, brush a loaf tin with 25g of butter and sprinkle flour around the tin to coat the butter. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6
5
Make sure the bread ingredients are at room temperature – this will help the bicarb to raise the dough as it bakes. Alternatively, warm the milk to blood temperature before adding to the mix
6
In a bowl, mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and sugar
  • 250g of wholemeal flour
  • 100g of plain flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 5g of bicarbonate of soda
  • 3g of salt
  • 5g of caster sugar
7
Rub the remaining 25g of butter into the flour until the mix resembles breadcrumbs - this should take approximately 4-5 minutes
8
Add the buttermilk and milk and mix until it has just come together - be careful not to over mix
  • 250ml of buttermilk
  • 150ml of milk
9
Tip and scrape the dough into the prepared tin, cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes
10
Remove the foil and continue baking for a further 20-25 minutes, or until done. The cooked loaf should produce a hollow sound when tapped on the base
11
Slice the soda bread and toast. Spread the jam over the toast and serve
First published in 2015
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As chef director of The Cross at Kenilworth, and with years working at Michelin-starred restaurants under his belt, Adam Bennett is receiving the accolades and respect his prodigious talent deserves.

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