Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients: 

• 1 ¾ cups (265g/9oz) whole wheat flour ( fine or coarsely ground ).
• 1 ¾ cups (265g/9oz) all- purpose flour .
• 1 teaspoon salt.
• 1 teaspoon baking soda.
• 2 tablespoons (30g/1oz) butter , cold
• 1 egg.
  
• 1 2/3 cups (400ml) buttermilk.
• 1 tablespoon oats.

Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F (215 C)
2. Mix Together the flours, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles bread crumbs.
3. In a separate jug ,whisk the egg and buttermilk together.
4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the liquid, ¾ an once, into the flour mixture.
5. Using an open hand and liquid together to a loose dough. The dough should be quite soft, but not too sticky. You will know then if it needs more of the liquids. Flour in different places reacts differently to added liquid
6. Turn onto a floured work surface and gently bring the dough together into a round about 1 1/2inches (4 cm) thick (8 inches by 8 inches).
7. Place on a baking sheet dusted well with flour.
8. Score the bread by blessing it with a deep cross on top. Poke a hole in the 4 corners of the bread.
9. Glaze the bread with the leftover bit of buttermilk in your jug and dust the top with rolled oats.
10. Bake for 15 min. then turn down the oven to 400 F(200C) and bake for 30 min. more. When done, the loaf will sound hallow when tapped on the bottom.
11. Remove from the baking sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.

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