Is Sourdough and Soda Bread The Same Thing?

Sourdough and soda bread are not the same things, and the main difference relies on the leavening agent. While sourdough bread rises due to the gasses released from yeast and bacteria fermentation, soda bread rises from the gasses produced during the chemical interaction that occurs between baking soda and acids in the dough.

Is Sourdough Bread Better Than Soda Bread?

The answer to this question would be both. Sourdough bread can be made with wheat, rye, or other types of flour that are enriched with vitamins and minerals. Similarly, soda bread, while often made with soft whole-wheat flour, many recipes may include other nutritious ingredients that make this bread healthy.

What Does Baking Soda do to Sourdough Bread?

Combining baking soda into the dough during the shaping stage will give the sourdough bread an extra boost, as well as ensure that it remains light and airy.

Is Soda Bread a Healthy Bread?

Soda bread is a healthy option, as it's made with healthy ingredients like whole wheat flour.

Sourdough Soda Bread Recipe [Simple and Easy to Make]

Ingredients

Scale

125g all-purpose flour
125g stoneground or whole wheat flour
3g kosher salt
3g baking soda
50g raisins
7g caraway seeds
42g cold unsalted butter
100g sourdough starter discard
118ml cultured buttermilk
24g honey

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Combine both flours, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
Cut the butter into cubes and coat the pieces in the flour mixture. Then use your hands to crumble the butter into the flour mixture, until you achieve a breadcrumb texture.
Mix the raisins and caraway seeds into the flour mixture.
In a separate bowl whisk the sourdough discard, buttermilk, and honey then drop the wet mixture into the flour mixture.
Gently fold the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients using your hands, or a dough whisk until they are thoroughly incorporated.
Transfer the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Add a dusting of flour to the dough, and shape it into a round shape.
Use a sharp knife to cut a 1/2-inch deep X into the top of the loaf.
Bake the soda bread for 40 minutes, or until it’s a dark golden brown, and the internal temperature reaches 200F.
Remove the soda bread from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

Treat your soda bread dough like you’re making biscuits. Gently knead the dough, taking care to not over-knead, as this will cause the gluten to develop creating a tough bread.
Freeze your butter so that it remains cold when added to the dough. The cold butter will create delicious flaky pockets once in the oven.
You can add some lemon zest for extra flavor.
Coat your soda bread in butter and honey for the best soda bread.

Author: Natasha Krajnc
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: bread
Cuisine: Irish

Nutrition

Calories: 199 kcal
Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Carbohydrates: 34 g
Protein: 5 g