Today, the world knows Irish soda bread as a classic Saint Patrick’s Day food. It is a traditional food eaten as a celebration leading up to Saint Patrick’s day, but this food originally was created out of necessity, not celebration.

This soda bread actually originated from Indigenous people, who used pearl-ash, a natural baking soda, to leaven their bread. However, it wasn’t until the Irish replicated this recipe that it earned its reputation.

Irish soda bread was first created in the late 1830s when baking soda was first introduced to the United Kingdom. During this time, Ireland was struggling financially and the people were able to make this soda bread out of inexpensive and basic ingredients like flour, baking soda, salt, and soured milk.

Ireland’s climate is only suitable for growing the soft variety of wheat, which is used for most bread recipes. Because of this, soda bread became a perfect recipe for the people who lived in Ireland.

This bread was also beneficial because many people who lived in areas with little access to cooking equipment were still able to make this easy and filling recipe. Back in the day, lower-class families did not have ovens and traditionally cooked this bread in iron pots or on griddles over open fires creating the signature texture and taste that this bread is known for. 

While the Irish soda bread recipe below comes out delicious, the Trailblazer decided to also go to a professional source in Irish baking: Mr. Nicholas Scerbo, a proud Irish history teacher at Pascack Hills.

When asked about Irish soda bread, Scerbo told the Trailblazer that his grandmother was an expert in baking. The above two images come directly from Grandma Scerbo’s cookbook, and her grandson recommends her baking, saying, “this was the recipe that my grandmother used to make Irish soda bread. She made it very well, too!”

Check out the video below to learn how to make Irish soda bread. Enjoy!