Guinness, treacle and Green Rooibos – it shamrocks!

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day on the 17^th of March and that means the whole world goes fifty shades of green. Why green?  Because Ireland, getting a lot of rain, is known as the Emerald Isle?  Because in the Rebellion of 1798 the Irish wore green to distinguish themselves from the English “redcoats”.  Or because early St. Patrick’s revelers thought wearing green made them invisible to leprechauns, fairy creatures who would pinch anyone they could see?  It’s all of the above. 

So what could be more appropriate than giving you a recipe for Irish Soda bread, given extra flavor and richness with a combination of Guinness and our Green Rooibos?!

GREEN ROOIBOS, GUINNESS AND TREACLE SODA BREAD

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 cup strong wholemeal flour
• ½ cup jumbo oats
• ½ teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
• ½ cup Guinness
• 1 cup natural yogurt
• 3 tablespoons black treacle
• 1 Green Rooibos teabag steeped in ½ cup boiling water 

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas 6.
2. Brew your 100ml of Green Rooibos, steeping the tea bag for about 5 minutes.
3. Grease a large baking tray or line with baking parchment.
4. Put the flours, oats, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a mixing bowl and toss together.
5. Add the butter and, using your fingertips, rub it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
6. In a jug or second mixing bowl, stir together the Guinness, Green Rooibos, yogurt and treacle, until the treacle more or less dissolves – this will take a little while, but stir patiently and it will come together.
7. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and, with a spatula, wooden spoon or firm hand, bring everything together into a rough dough. Knead for a moment on the worktop, just until the dough has come together, shape into a rough ball and put on the prepared baking tray.
8. Dust the ball of dough liberally with flour, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to press a deep cross into the dough, ensuring you don’t go all the way through the dough, so all 4 quarters are still connected.
9. Place the loaf in the oven and bake for 50 minutes until golden, crispy and steaming.

Drink the rest of the Guinness! 🤩  ☘️

Serving suggestion:  These loaves are great with smoked salmon and mackerel pâté.