Soda Bread with Fig and Fennel

During a lovely kayaking session yesterday we got talking about homemade Kefir and my gorgeous friend couldn't keep up with her kefir. We suggested doing smaller batches and then she said, I've heard you can make soda bread with kefir. Have you ever made Soda bread? I said I had and that I am sure I have some recipes, so after a little search this morning, this is one of my recipes. With a little investigation, I found that you can just swap the milk for Kefir. See below for the simple recipe.

Ingredients

350g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting

100g rye flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

200ml whole milk

150g yogurt

2 tsp fennel seeds

150g dried figs

Pinch of sea salt

Method

1.       Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. 

2.       Place all the ingredients, except the figs, into a large bowl. Chop the figs into smallish chunks then add to the bowl. Roughly knead to combine. 

3.       Lightly flour your work surface and a baking tray. Tip the dough out onto the surface and knead a little more or until just combined, for no longer than a minute. 

4.       Shape however you fancy, whether in a round or oval loaf or even rolls, then transfer to the baking tray.  

5.       Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped underneath.

6.       Allow to cool.