Caramelised shallot soda bread with herby butter
Author: www.ukshallot.com
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- For the bread:
- 20g butter
- 6 shallots, finely sliced
- 1tbsp brown sugar
- 1tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 500g plain white flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 2tsp baking powder
- 60g cheddar cheese, grated
- 400ml buttermilk
- For the butter:
- 230g butter, room temp
- small bunch thyme, leaves picked
- small bunch parsley, finely chopped
Method
- Heat oven to 200C/Gas 6.
- Melt butter in a frying pan and gently cook shallots with the lid on for 10 mins.
- Add sugar and vinegar and turn up the heat.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, so the shallots caramelise.
- Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, salt and baking powder and stir in 50g of the cheese and the shallots.
- Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the buttermilk.
- Mix gently but quickly to combine to a dough.
- Turn out onto a floured surface and pat into a circle.
- Transfer to a non-stick baking sheet and pat down a little.
- Scatter with the remaining cheese, cut a large cross deep into the dough and bake for 40-45 mins until the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
- Beat the butter in a bowl until soft then beat in the herbs.
- Roll up in cling film and twist the ends to make it tight.
- Refrigerate and when ready to serve the bread, cut discs of butter to spread on the slices.
