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Categories:Viewed: 27 - Published at: 4 years ago
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450 grams) plain white flour, preferably unbleached
- 1 level teaspoon/1/2 American teaspoon salt
- 1 level teaspoon/1/2 American teaspoon bread soda (baking soda), finely sifted *see note
- 1 dessertspoon sugar
- 3 to 4 ounces (85 to 110 grams) sultanas
- 1 free range egg (egg is part of liquid measurement)
- About 14 fluid ounces (425 milliliters) buttermilk
- Note: an Irish tablespoon is the same quantity as an American tablespoon plus a teaspoon.
Method
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- In a large mixing bowl sift in the flour and bread soda, add the salt, sugar, and sultanas.
- Mix well by lifting the flour and fruit up in to your hands and then letting them fall back into the bowl through your fingers.
- This adds more air and therefore hopefully more lightness to your finished bread.
- Now make a well in the center of the flour.
- Break the egg into the bottom of your measuring jug, and add the buttermilk to the14 fluid ounce (425 milliliter) line (your egg is part of your liquid measurement).
- Pour most of this milk and egg into the flour.
- Using 1 hand with the fingers open and stiff, mix in a full circle drawing in the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary.
- The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky.
- The trick with spotted dick like all soda breads is not to over mix the dough.
- Mix it as quickly and as gently as possible thus keeping it light and airy.
- When the dough all comes together, turn it out onto a well-floured work surface.
- Wash and dry your hands.
- With floured fingers roll lightly for a few seconds just enough to tidy it up.
- Pat the dough into a round, pressing to about 2-inch (6 centimeter) in height.
- Place the dough on a baking tray dusted lightly with flour.
- With a sharp knife cut a deep cross on it, let the cuts go over the sides of the bread.
- Prick with knife at the 4 triangles as according to Irish Folklore this is to let the fairies out!
- Put in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 35 minutes or until cooked.
- If you are in doubt about the bread being cooked, tap the bottom: if it is cooked it will sound hollow.
- Serve freshly baked, cut into thick slices and smeared with butter and jam.
- Spotted Dick is also really good eaten with cheese.
- This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant.
- The FN chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
