Savory Cheddar Chive Irish (Printable Version)
Rustic Irish soda bread rich with cheddar and fresh chives, ideal for warming dishes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp baking soda
03 - 1 tsp fine sea salt
04 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Cheese & Herbs
05 - 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
06 - 1/3 cup fresh chives, finely chopped
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 1 3/4 cups buttermilk, plus extra as needed
08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
03 - Stir in grated cheddar and chopped chives until evenly distributed throughout flour mixture.
04 - Create a well in center of dry ingredients. Pour in buttermilk and melted butter. Mix with wooden spoon or hands until shaggy dough forms. Add additional buttermilk 1 tablespoon at a time if mixture appears too dry.
05 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Gently knead just until dough comes together—avoid overworking. Shape into round loaf approximately 7 inches in diameter.
06 - Place loaf on prepared baking sheet. Cut deep X across top using sharp knife.
07 - Bake 30–35 minutes until deeply golden and loaf sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.
08 - Cool on wire rack at least 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Chef's Tips:
01 -
- The cheese creates these incredible pockets of gooeyness throughout the crumb that make every slice feel like a treat
- From zero to bread in under an hour makes this perfect for those ohcrap moments when guests are coming
- That combination of sharp cheddar and fresh chives turns humble soda bread into something that feels restaurant worthy
02 -
- Once you add the liquid to the baking soda, the chemical reaction starts immediately—get that bread in the oven without delay
- The shaggier your dough looks before shaping, the more tender your final bread will be—smooth soda bread is tough soda bread
03 -
- Freeze your block of cheddar for 30 minutes before grating—it creates perfect shreds without turning into a sticky mess
- Cut your X about 1 inch deep using a very sharp knife held at a slight angle—it looks more professional and bakes more evenly