Get a taste of Ireland with this good old fashioned fresh, no-fuss soda bread with a St Patricks day twist. Celebrating her Irish roots, our founder Jenny has added pesto to the recipe, which gives this loaf a delicious flavour.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Preheat oven to 200ºC/ 180ºC fan/Gas Mark 6
Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 500g plain wholemeal flour
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 400ml whole milk
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 tsp honey
• Pesto (optional)

Method

1. 1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
   2. Mix together the milk and lemon juice in a jug, and wait for a minute as it magically turns into buttermilk. Then stir in the honey.
   3. Mix together the flour, salt and bicarb in a bowl.
   4. Pour the milk into the flour mixture. Mix until the whole thing comes together into a sticky dough.
   5. Add in the pesto and shape it into a ball.
   6. Put the ball on a floured baking tray and, using a sharp knife, make a deep cross on top.
   7. Put in the oven and bake for 40 mins.
   8. Cool the soda bread on a wire rack until warm, then slice and serve.