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Irish brown bread

July 28, 2022
Recipe

A staple in homes all over Ireland, this hearty wheat bread is a snap to make.

Serves 24

A staple in Ireland, this hearty wheat bread is easy to make. It's typically cut into wedges and served with jam.

To make this plant based, use egg and milk substitutes.


Heat the oven to 400 F. Have ready a nonstick baking sheet.

In a bowl, combine the flours, wheat germ, baking soda and salt. Whisk to blend. Add buttermilk and egg and stir just until moistened. The dough will be sticky.

Turn the dough out onto a generously floured work surface and, with floured hands, gently knead it 8 to 10 times. Gather into a loose ball.

On the baking sheet, form the dough into a 7-inch round. Dust the top of dough with a small amount of flour. Cut a large (4-inch) X into the top of the dough, cutting about 1/2 inch deep.

Bake until the bread splits open at the X and makes a hollow sound when the underside is tapped, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 2 hours (ideally) before slicing.


  • 2 cups whole-wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading and dusting
  • 1/2 cup wheat germ
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten

DASH Eating Plan Servings

Dairy foods (low-fat or fat-free) Fats and oils Fruits 1 Grains and grain products Meats, poultry and fish Nuts, seeds and dry beans Sweets Vegetables

Diabetes Meal Plan Choices

Fats Dairy foods (low-fat or fat-free) Fruits Meat and meat substitutes Milk and milk products Nonstarchy vegetables 1 Starches Sweets, desserts and other carbohydrates

Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid Servings

1 Carbohydrates Fats Fruits Protein and dairy Sweets Vegetables

Nutritional analysis per serving

Calcium 85 Calories 15 g Total carbohydrate 9 mg Cholesterol 1.5 g Dietary fiber Trace Monounsaturated fat Potassium 4 g Protein Trace Saturated fat 1 slice Serving size 170 mg Sodium 1 g Total fat