Ancho Chilli and Smoky Cheddar Soda Bread

Soft, fluffy soda bread, with fiery ancho chilli, and gooey chunks of smoky cheddar cheese. 

This is my episode three Bake Off themed post. Episode three was bread week, and I have decided to try out soda bread, as I have never made it before! I used this Jamie Oliver Simple Soda bread recipe, but added the chilli and cheese to make it more interesting!

I wasn’t sure how soda bread would taste as i have never tried it before, but I really liked it. I think it tastes a lot like a savoury scone, so very soft and crumbly. I found this really easy to make as well, its literally just mixing all the ingredients together and then baking it, not much effort required!

I will be bringing this along to Fiesta Friday#82  this week, hosted by Angie! Happy Friday!!

Ingredients: Makes 1 Large Loaf

• 350g plain flour
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1tsp sea salt
• 1tsp sugar
• 1 large egg
• 300ml buttermilk
• 2 tbsp tomato and chilli pesto
• 150g smoked cheddar cheese
• 1 ancho chilli

 To Make:

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas 5.

Place the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and sugar in a large bowl and mix together.

In a separate bowl, use a balloon whisk to beat the egg and buttermilk, and pesto together.

Cut 2/3 of the cheese into small 1cm cubes and finely chop the soaked ancho chilli. Mix into the flour mixture.

Use a fork to stir the egg mixture into the flour, then as it starts to come together, use your hands to pat and bring the dough together.

Shape the dough into a ball and place onto a lightly floured baking tray.  Use a knife to cut a deep cross in the top, then grate over the rest of the cheddar cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until golden brown. (The loaf should sound hollow when tapped!)

Serve warm with a good covering of butter, enjoy!