Irish Soda Bread with Raisins and Caraway

yooper's Note:

I have never made this, and doubt I ever will, since I'm not a fan or raisins. The reason for this submission is that this was a favorite recipe from Chef Jerry O'Leary, who worked in the corporate dining room at Cantor Fitzgerald's in the World Trade Center. Jerry lost his life on Sept 11. Taken from Oct 2002 issue of "Bon Apetit."

• Total Time: 1 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup unsalted butter , cut into cubes,room temperature
• 2 ½ cups raisins
• 3 tablespoons caraway seeds
• 2 ½ cups buttermilk
• 1 large egg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Generously butter heavy ovenproof 10 to 12-inch diameter skillet with 2- to 2 1/2-inch-high sides.
3. Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend.
4. Add butter, using fingertips, rub in until coarse crumbs form.
5. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds.
6. Whisk buttermilk and egg in medium bowl to blend.
7. Add to dough; using wooden spoon, stir just until incorporated.
8. Dough will be very sticky.
9. Transfer dough to prepared skillet; smooth top, mounding slightly in center.
10. Using small sharp knife dipped into flour, cut 1-inch-deep X in top center of dough.
11. Bake until bread is cooked through and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
12. Cool bread in skillet 10 minutes.
13. Turn out onto rack and cool completely.

Reviews

[weezo]

Quick & easy to prepare. Many soda bread recipes are bland. This was very tasty. I used a 12" skillet and it easily served 22. Positive comments from everyone. I will make it part of my annual St. Patrick's Day dinner.

[Chef #1207351]

Tastes great with the Open-face Corned Beef and Cheese Sandwiches With Pickled Onions recipe on this site. Try substituting 2 cups of whole wheat and 1 cup of oats for 3 cups of white flour.

[Chef #192855]

On two occasions during the St. Patricks Day season, I attended dinners where a "traditional" St. Patrick's Day meal was being served. In addition to the fact that the turnip, parsnips, and onions were missing, something that was alleged to be Irish soda bread was served. Apparently, the recipe was well worn and stained because the list of ingredients apparently only called for 1/2 cup of raisins and no caraway seeds. Even worse they apparently used cake flour. It crumled. I found this recipe and was really pleased. I gave it to some friends and so were they. We all particularly enjoyed it toasted for breakfast.