Irish Brown Bread Recipe

You will need the following ingredients:

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

Preheat the oven to 4oo degrees. Have ready a nonstick baking sheet. In a bowl, combine the flours, wheat germ, baking soda and salt. Whisk to blend.

Beat in the buttermilk and egg and stir just until moistened. Turn the dough out onto a generously floured work surface and with flour hands, gently knead 8 to 10 times. The dough will be sticky. 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 an X in the top of the dough, about 1/2 inch deep.

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

Slather with softened butter (margarine if you’re being good!), homemade strawberry jam or apple butter. Enjoy!