This easy and delicious herby cheese soda bread by Jamie Oliver is the perfect accompaniment to any meal. With fresh rosemary, creamy cheese, and hearty oats, it’s simple to make and ideal for serving with soups or stews. You can even switch up the cheese to suit what you have on hand!
Ingredients Needed
- 250g (2 cups) plain wholemeal flour
- 200g (1 2/3 cups) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- 50g (1/2 cup) porridge oats, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 4 sprigs of rosemary
- 1 large free-range egg
- 300g (1 1/4 cups) buttermilk or natural yoghurt
- 100g (1 cup) Red Leicester or Cheddar cheese
- Olive oil
How To Make Herby Cheese Soda Bread
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine both flours, oats, bicarbonate of soda, and 1 level teaspoon of sea salt.
- Add Rosemary: Pick and finely chop the rosemary leaves. Stir most of them into the flour mixture, reserving some for later.
- Make a Well and Add Wet Ingredients: Create a well in the center of the mixture. Crack in the egg and pour in the buttermilk. Use a fork to mix everything together, gradually pulling in the flour from the sides.
- Bring the Dough Together: Once the mixture starts to come together, use your clean, lightly floured hands to knead it into a dough.
- Add the Cheese: Chop the cheese into chunks and gently mix it into the dough. Shape the dough into a ball, then flatten it into a disc about 3cm (1 inch) deep.
- Add Oats and Score the Dough: Sprinkle some oats and a little sea salt on top, pressing them into the dough. Score a deep criss-cross pattern on top of the dough.
- Cook in the Air-Fryer: Place the dough in the air-fryer basket and cook at 180ºC (350ºF) for 20 minutes.
- Add Rosemary and Final Cook: Rub the reserved chopped rosemary with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, then sprinkle it over the bread. Cook for another 10 minutes, or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom and the crust is firm.
- Cool and Serve: Transfer the bread to a wire cooling rack and serve warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overmix the dough: Once you add the wet ingredients, mix gently until just combined. Overmixing can result in tough bread.
- Adjust the cheese: If you don’t have Red Leicester, Cheddar works great too. You can also use a mix of cheeses for extra flavor.
- Score the dough deeply: When scoring the dough, make sure the cuts are deep to help it cook evenly and create that beautiful criss-cross pattern.
- Air-fryer temperature: Ensure the air fryer is preheated to 180ºC (350ºF) for the best result, so the bread cooks properly with a nice, firm crust.
How To Store And Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: Let the leftover bread cool to room temperature. Then, wrap it in cling film or place it in an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Allow the bread to cool completely before freezing. Wrap it tightly in cling film or foil, then place it in a freezer bag. It can be frozen for up to 1 month. To serve, let it thaw at room temperature before slicing.
- Reheat: Preheat the air fryer to 160ºC (320ºF). Place the bread in the basket and heat for 5-7 minutes, or until it reaches the desired temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of the loaf)
- Calories: 286
- Total Fat: 19.4g
- Saturated Fat: 7.6g
- Total Carbohydrate: 28g
- Dietary Fiber: 0.3g
- Sugars: 23.6g
- Protein: 28.4g
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