Irish soda bread is a quick bread, which means it doesn’t require any yeast or kneading to rise. Instead, it relies on baking soda and buttermilk, which interact for leavening. When the ingredients are combined, the leavening process starts immediately, so the dough should be mixed quickly—hence the moniker “quick bread.” It shouldn’t be overworked, or the bread will be tough.
Given its attribution, it seems that an Irish soda bread would be a fitting recipe to post for St. Patrick’s Day. However, upon some research, it appears that what we know as Irish soda bread in the United States isn’t authentically Irish.
