James Martin Soda Bread

This James Martin soda bread is a wonderfully simple loaf with a crisp crust and a soft, tender crumb. It has a mild, wheaty flavour with a gentle tang from the buttermilk, making it perfect for both sweet and savoury toppings. This is a very easy bake with no yeast, no kneading, and minimal hands-on time. From start to finish, it takes about 45 minutes, ideal for a quick homemade bread.

Inspired by the straightforward, traditional style often championed by James Martin, this soda bread is reliable, rustic, and deeply satisfying.

Ingredients

For the Soda Bread

• 450g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 400ml buttermilk

How to Make James Martin Soda Bread

• Prepare the Oven: Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Lightly dust a baking tray with flour or line it with baking parchment.
• Mix the Dough: Sift the flour, salt, sugar, and bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in most of the buttermilk. Using your hand or a wooden spoon, gently bring the mixture together into a soft dough. Add the remaining buttermilk only if needed. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
• Shape and Bake: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a round loaf, handling it as little as possible. Place the loaf onto the prepared baking tray. Using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross into the top.
• Baking and Cooling: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the loaf is well risen and sounds hollow when tapped on the base. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Tips for Perfect Soda Bread

Why is my soda bread dense?

This usually happens if the dough is overworked. Mix gently and handle the dough as little as possible.

Can I use milk instead of buttermilk?

Yes, but add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk and let it stand for 5 minutes to mimic buttermilk.

How do I know when it is fully baked?

Tap the base of the loaf. If it sounds hollow, it is ready.

Should I knead soda bread?

No. Soda bread relies on minimal handling to keep it light and tender.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with plenty of butter
• Pair with soups and stews
• Toast and top with jam or honey
• Use for simple sandwiches with cheese or smoked salmon

Storage

Room Temperature

Keep the bread wrapped in a clean tea towel for up to 2 days.

Refrigerator

Not recommended, as it can dry the bread out more quickly.

Freezing

Slice the loaf and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost slices at room temperature or toast straight from frozen.

Nutrition Information (Per Slice)

• Calories: 190 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Protein: 6g
• Fat: 1.5g
• Saturated Fat: 0.3g
• Sodium: 410mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients used.

FAQs

James Martin Soda Bread

Recipe by Clara WoodCourse: BreadCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

Classic James Martin soda bread with a crisp crust and soft, tender crumb. A quick and easy no-yeast bread perfect for everyday baking.

Ingredients

• 450g plain flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp caster sugar

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 400ml buttermilk

Directions

• Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C Fan). Line or flour a baking tray.
• Mix flour, salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl.
• Add buttermilk and bring together gently to form a soft dough.
• Shape into a round loaf and place on tray. Cut a cross on top.
• Bake for 30–35 minutes until risen and hollow-sounding underneath.
• Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

• Handle the dough as little as possible.
• Best eaten fresh but freezes well.