Guinness ™ Soda Bread with Crispy Bacon Butter

RECIPE

GUINNESS™  SODA BREAD WITH CRISPY BACON BUTTER

Serves: 4-6

Prep Time: 45 Minutes

Cook Time: 1 Hour

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE SODA BREAD

250g plain flour

250g wholemeal flour

2tsp salt

1tbsp bicarbonate of soda

150g rolled oats

250ml buttermilk

250ml Guinness™

2 tbsp honey

FOR THE CRISPY BACON BUTTER

250g salted butter, softened

1 bunch chives, finely chopped

4 rashers smoked streaky bacon

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 200°c /180°c Fan/392°F/Gas Mark 5.

    

2. Mix the plain flour, wholemeal flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and rolled oats in a large bowl and make a well in the centre.

    

3. In a separate bowl mix together the buttermilk, Guinness™ and honey.

    

4. Add the Guinness™ and honey mix to the flour and bring together to form a smooth sticky dough.

    

5. Line a 2lb bread tin with a little butter and greaseproof paper.

    

6. Gently tip the dough into the tin and sprinkle a few extra oats on top.

    

7. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, then turn down to 180°c/160c° Fan/356°F/Gas Mark 3 and continue to bake for another 20 minutes.

    

8. Gently remove the bread from the tin and place on a rack to bake for a further 5 minutes to crisp up the outside. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

    

9. Place the butter into a bowl and add the finely chopped chives.

    

10. Cook the smoked bacon in a dry frying pan until crispy, remove the bacon and pour the bacon fat over the butter and chives.

     

11. Finely chop the smoked bacon and add to the butter. Mix and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

CHEF'S TIP

The bread can be made well in advance and can be frozen. Once it has defrosted, splash with a little water and bake in the oven for 5 minutes at 180°c/160c° Fan/356°F/Gas Mark 3 to refresh it.