Lunch: Rosemary and Cranberry Soda Bread

Recipe by Neven Maguire This is an interesting twist on our beautiful soda bread. Look for dried cranberries in the larger supermarkets or any health food shop should stock them. This is my favourite bread that we serve as part of our bread selection in

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Cranberries

Health and fertility benefits of Rosemary and Cranberry Soda Bread

Researchers believe that cranberries contain substances that prevent infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls. However, store-bought cranberry juice is typically all sugar - so make sure to stick with straight cranberries.

Ingredients

450g (1lb) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp bread soda
1 tsp salt
100g (4oz) dried cranberries
4 fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves stripped and finely chopped
350ml (12fl oz) buttermilk, plus a little extra if necessary
butter, to serve

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 220 °C (425 °F/gas mark 7).
Sift the flour, bread soda and salt into a bowl. Stir the cranberries and rosemary through and make a well in the centre. Add the buttermilk and using a large spoon, mix gently and quickly until you have achieved a nice soft dough. Add a little bit more buttermilk if necessary, until the dough binds together without being sloppy.
Knead the dough very lightly on a lightly floured surface and then shape into a round that is roughly 15cm (6in) in size. Place on a non-stick baking sheet and cut a deep cross in the top.
Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 200 °C (400 °F/gas mark 6) and bake for another 20 –25 minutes, until the loaf is evenly golden and crusty. To check that the bread is properly cooked, tap the base – it should sound hollow. If it doesn't, return it to the oven for another 5 minutes.
Transfer the cooked soda bread to a wire rack and leave to cool for about 20 minutes. This bread is best eaten while it's still warm.
To serve, place the soda bread on a breadboard and cut into slices at the table. Have a dish of butter to hand for spreading.

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