Irish soda bread

By winefoot

Ingredients

• 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
• 1 egg, unbeaten
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 egg yolk

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from pennlive.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 2-quart casserole or cast-iron skillet.
Sift together flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Stir in caraway seeds. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Stir in raisins.
Combine buttermilk, egg and soda, then stir into flour mixture until just moistened.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead lightly until smooth. Shape into ball.
Place in casserole or skillet. With sharp knife, make a 4-inch cross, 1/4-inch deep, in center. Beat egg yolk, adding water if needed, then brush onto dough with pastry brush.
Bake 70 minutes or until done. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from casserole or skillet.