Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread With Bulgur Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread With Bulgur Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Rating
4(144)
Notes
Read community notes

If you have ever been to Ireland you have tasted soda bread, a moist, easy to make bread that is rich and nutty tasting when made with whole wheat flour. It is a very quick and easy bread to make as long as you are willing to get your hands sticky. When you pull the bread from the oven wrap it loosely in a kitchen towel and allow to cool. This softens the crust and makes it easier to cut.

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Ingredients

Yield:1 9-inch loaf (about 16 generous slices)

  • 120grams (about ¾ cup) medium (#2) bulgur
  • 1cup boiling water
  • 460grams (about 3⅔ cups) whole wheat flour
  • 8grams baking soda (1½ teaspoons)
  • 10grams salt (about 1½ teaspoons)
  • 2cups buttermilk (more as needed)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Place the bulgur in a bowl and pour on 1 cup boiling water, or enough to cover the bulgur by about ½ inch. Cover the bowl and allow the bulgur to sit for 30 minutes, until all the water has been absorbed and the grains are tender.

  2. Step

    2

    Meanwhile preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment.

  3. Step

    3

    Place the flour in a large, wide bowl and sift in the baking soda and salt. Mix in with your hands or with a wide spatula. Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour in the buttermilk. Add the bulgur to the well, then mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl to the center using a wide rubber spatula, a wide wooden spoon or your hands, turning the bowl and sweeping the flour from the sides into the buttermilk. Mix until the bulgur and buttermilk have been incorporated into the flour, then scrape out onto a lightly floured work surface. The dough should be soft and a bit sticky. Flour your hands so it won’t stick to them.

  4. Step

    4

    Gently knead the dough, only enough to shape it into a ball, then with floured hands gently pat it down to a 2-inch high round, about 9 inches in diameter. Place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet and cut a ½-inch deep cross across the top.

  5. Step

    5

    Place in the oven and bake 20 minutes at 450 degrees. Turn down the heat to 375 degrees and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the loaf responds with a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom. Remove from the oven, wrap loosely in a cloth or kitchen towel, and cool on a rack.

Tips

  • If you have been following my baking recipes, done in grams, note that I have revised my weight of 1 cup of flour; scooping flour into a cup with a tablespoon and leveling off, I got a lighter cup of flour (about 125 grams as opposed to the 140 I used in my muffin recipes) and am basing my approximations on this.
  • Advance preparation: Soda bread is best eaten within 2 days of baking. It does not freeze well.

Ratings

4

out of 5

144

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Amy

Why include bulgur in soda bread? I'd love a bit more explanation of the creation process and what to expect with this recipe.

Nadia

American whole wheat flour isn't as rough as the wholemeal flour used in Ireland. You can order Odlum's Wholemeal flour but it is crazy expensive. I have never had much success with trying to replicate Irish brown bread- even with the flour- plan on giving this a whirl today

LindaL

I love this bread! The recipe is easy and the ingredient proportions were just right. Excellent soft but chewy texture and great flavor. Nothing like other sweet, cake-like versions I have had. Really good toasted (or even warmed in the microwave) with butter.

Joan

Part of what gives soda bread that nutty, rustic flavor and texture is the inclusion off cracked or broken grains. It’s hard to find cracked wheat flour here, so adding bulgur is a reasonable approximation.

Bonnie

The dough was beyond soft and sticky! I had to almost double the quantity of flour to make it manageable. I also had to increase the cooking time. That said, the bread is dense and delicious. I added a cup of walnuts as well to make it even more nutritious. Will definitely make again.

Sally

This Irish Soda bread is a satisfying, hearty and delicious alternative to white flour Irish Soda Bread. I baked a loaf for a St. Patrick's party and it was a hit. My husband loved it too. Finding bulgur was not so easy, but the health food coop had it in a bin. It's now in my favorites recipes for St. Patrick's day, along with homemade brined bristled for corned beef.

Rachel Holmen

Try kasha, available in most grocery stores, for bulgur wheat? Kasha is toasted buckwheat; bulgur is a cracked wheat (used in traditional tabbouleh); it's soaked and then baked; since it's wheat, it contains gluten. Kasha is gluten-free.(Info based on personal experience, plus info from several nutrition websites.)

AliM

I followed the instructions, weighed the ingredients and followed the times and temps and ended up with a loaf that was better suited to being a doorstop. It weighed a ton and was flat. Where did I go wrong?

Will

I froze leftover bread (sliced) and it was perfectly good three months later. This is the best bread of this type that I’ve ever made…

BLC

Mar. 2020. Too much liquid (maybe the 140 g flour that's mentioned in the "tips" section would work better, or reduce the amount of water that you add to the bulgur. It was impossible to transfer the first loaf from the counter to the cookie sheet, so I had to reshape it on the sheet. I scraped the dough for the second loaf directly onto the sheet, then shaped it there.Made 2 smaller loaves instead of one large one.

Danielle

Tasty, simple, quick -- we made it alongside the creamy broccoli soup and this was done first. I used instant oats bc bulger wasn't in the cards.

Chantal

Fantastic! Used some couscous that was lurking in the pantry. Flour is clearly the most critical variable -- I had stone ground ww flour from local bakery. Bracing for a very wet dough, I ended up with one that was almost dry. Staying the course, I popped it in the oven as was, and ended up with a gorgeous, moist loaf. Oh, and added walnuts for a lovely crunch.

Rudolfo

I followed the recipe exactly, which is something I rarely do. The soda bread baked exceptionally well ending with a superb hallow sound. The flavor was a balance of wheat and bulgur pleasing to my buds with hints of sweetness (albeit no brown sugar was added) and, the texture had a soft yet firm essence that togethered exceptionally well with butter and preserves. Making another recipe today.

terry94705

Mmm. My first soda bread. Followed recipe and timings closely. The only variance was letting the soaked bulgar sit for a couple of hours. Don’t know if this made any difference. You don’t notice the bulgar as bulgar—just a tasty grainy bread. Yummy and easy. Dense but not gummy. Most was consumed in a half day.

Jennifer toews shimizu

First 240 or 250, then 200 to finish off. (Ignore previous notes)

CA

Made with white whole wheat and bulgur in sun oven late in day (200-300fegrees). Need hotter oven and maybe leave off lid.

Tahini Cookies

Agree with the others - I had to add an extra 1 cup of flour, but otherwise followed the recipe and got a delicious loaf!

Sara

American wholewheat flour is more refined than Irish flour, which is why the bulgur is needed. Soaking the bulgur gave it texture that didn't break teeth. I did 2 cups of white to 1 2/3 wholewheat flour and increased the baking soda to 2 tsp. It was very wet so I added more wholewheat flour at the end. Turned out beautifully. Delicious and easy.

Joules

Followed the recipe (scaled it all out in grams) with the exception of whole milk instead of buttermilk and it was fantastic! The dough was very wet but there was no need to add more flour just to make it more manageable because the results were great! Next time I may just trying turning the dough out onto the baking sheet and quickly shaping it.

Debbie Crane

I was a bit unsure about this, but it came out really great. Nice to have a healthy recipe for Irish soda bread. I'm trying to eat more complex carbs and this fit the bill. It is also really easy.

Bonnie

I love this bread. I substituted uncooked oats for some of the flour, and I added a cup of walnuts.

BEVERLY A SAUER

I’ve made this bread twice with mixed results. First time: i used Bob’s Bulgur wheat, which didn’t absorb the water well. I used a soy/ lemon substitute for the buttermilk because I’m allergic to cow’s milk. The dough was so sticky I had to add a lot more flour to handle it at all. I’ll add that I’m a pretty good baker and know the feel of good dough. The bread was gummy

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Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread With Bulgur Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my Irish soda bread not rise? ›

If your bread is not rising at all, there is usually a problem with the yeast. It might be out of date or, often, dead due to high temperature. Yeast begin to die at 120℉ (49℃). To see if the yeast you are using is active, add a little to warm water with a little sugar and look for bubbles after 5 - 10 minutes.

How to know when Irish soda bread is done baking? ›

Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, about 65 to 70 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the bread should come out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Why is my Irish soda bread so dry? ›

It's important to remember no to overmix your ingredients. Irish Soda Bread is a dense bread, similar to a scone, but can easily become dry if overmixed. Quickly add the wet ingredients to a well you've made in the dry ingredients, and mix with your hands or a dough hook until it just comes together.

What makes Irish soda bread dense? ›

Because soda bread is not yeasted bread, kneading it just makes it dense and hard. To develop its trademark soft crumb, you touch the dough as little as possible while shaping it. If you prefer a chewier kneaded bread texture but don't want to put in all that work, try our easy No-Knead Bread recipe.

What went wrong with my soda bread? ›

If you've ever tried Irish soda bread and not liked it, don't go running off yet! Chances are good that the bread you ate suffered from one of three common problems: improper amount of baking soda (a gross, salty-bitter taste), over cooking (a dry, chalky texture), or undercooking (a soggy, doughy center).

Can you over knead Irish soda bread? ›

Barely any kneading is necessary, but if you overknead it, it makes for a pretty tough bread. Start by mixing the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar together. Dice up the cold butter and cut it into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or the tips of your fingers.

Why is my Irish soda bread raw in the middle? ›

Your oven is too hot if it is uncooked in the center. Try lowering the temp on your oven by 25F and extending the bake time. Don't put anything on the top of the bread to aid in browning until the last few min. of cooking, and use an instant read thermometer (target temp to pull is 190F).

Should Irish soda bread dough be sticky? ›

Note that the dough will be a little sticky, and quite shaggy (a little like a shortcake biscuit dough). You want to work it just enough so the flour is just moistened and the dough just barely comes together. Shaggy is good. If you over-work the dough the bread will end up tough.

How dry should soda bread dough be? ›

The oldest recipe for soda bread, widely syndicated from Ireland's Newry Times in 1836, says the dough was "as soft as could possibly be handled...the softer the better." Thirteen years and 180 miles down the road, the Waterford Times described it as "wetter than pie crust, too stiff to pour, but not stiff enough to ...

What is good to put on Irish soda bread? ›

This versatile bread works for any meal, but Irish soda bread is a natural for breakfast, whether simply spread with (Irish) butter and jam or alongside that hearty fry-up known as a full Irish breakfast. It's also wonderful with a cup of tea in the afternoon or as a late-night snack.

Can you leave soda bread dough overnight? ›

You don't have to wait hours or overnight for a rise, either. In fact, you don't even need to wait at all: Dough for Irish soda bread can go right into the oven after making.

Why is my soda bread gummy? ›

And finally, don't immediately cut into the Fast Irish Soda bread when you pull it out of the oven. Although this bread is best served warm, cutting into it too quickly will turn the bread gummy.

Should you toast Irish soda bread? ›

Although soda bread is ideal for serving at room temperature, it is better to serve it warm. The thick and cakey texture of the bread and warm temperature brings out its hearty flavors. If you can't have it fresh from the over at least have it toasted.

Is Irish soda bread good for you? ›

Nutrition Notes

Whole-wheat soda bread is a healthy addition to your plate! One serving—a 1/2-inch-thick slice—provides complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

How to make Irish soda bread less dense? ›

If you feel like you have to knead the dough together, don't knead more than 5-6 times, max. Too much kneading will create a hard dense crumb on the bread. Rule of thumb with no yeast breads, the less kneading the softer the crumb.

How do you fix bread that won't rise? ›

But almost as good as a proofing box is taking a Mason jar filled halfway up with water, microwaving it for two minutes, then putting your bowl of dough into the microwave with the jar to rise. The other thing you can do is place your lidded container or bowl of dough into a second, larger bowl of warm water.

Why doesn't my bread seem to be rising? ›

Turn up the temperature to 80–90 °F (27–32 °C). Yeast loves nothing better than a warm, moist climate so it can multiply and your dough can be proof. If you want your dough to rise, up the temperature and set up the ideal humidity (75%) by creating a proof box in your oven.

What causes bread not to rise? ›

Yeast is too hot Yeast may have been dissolved in water that was too hot, or the liquid ingredients in the recipe may be too hot, causing the yeast to die. Yeast needs to be warm - not too hot, not too cold. Yeast is too cold If the other ingredients are too cold, it could cause some of the yeast to die.

Should Irish soda bread be dense? ›

Irish soda bread is an easy quick bread that has a soft, dense interior with a perfect crusty exterior. It pairs well with a nice hearty meal or as a side to a traditional Irish celebration.

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