Rustic Irish Soda Bread

This Irish Soda Bread is simple yet delicious. It is made using einkorn flour and kefir. Kefir is a wonderful way to incorporate the benefits of fermented foods into your diet. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics and have been used for thousands of years to preserve foods. Unlike other preserving methods such as canning or freezing, when foods are fermented, the nutritional content increases through the addition of good bacteria. Other delicious ferments we eat every week in the cottage kitchen include sauerkraut, yogurt, raw cheese, cottage cheese and apple cider vinegar.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups plain kefir

• 3 and 1/2 cups sifted einkorn flour

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 1 and 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 500 F with a dutch oven placed inside, cover on.

2. Combine the kefir, sifted flour and salt in a large bowl.

3. Combine the water and baking soda until it's dissolved. Then add to the flour mixture. (Feel free to add in any optional mix ins for a special savory or sweet treat!)*

4. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. Fold the dough four times, then form into a ball (it will be wet.)

5. Cut a large cross into the top of the dough. Place into the dutch oven. Lower the oven temperature to 450 F. Cook for 30-35 minutes. Uncover, then cook an additional 5 minutes.

* One of my favorites is rosemary garlic with parmesan for a savory option. A great sweet option is cinnamon raisin!