Rye Bread Recipe from scratch - No Yeast Rye Soda Bread (2024)

Rye bread made without yeast. A rye soda bread recipe that will make you fall in love with rye flour.


Rye Bread Recipe from scratch - No Yeast Rye Soda Bread (1)

I have a quick love letter to write today, and I hope you'll indulge me.

It's part love letter, but really, I want to let you know which cookbooks I use in my kitchen several times a week. If you reach for a cookbook on a weeknight, or if you reach for a cookbook more than once a week, it's a good sign.

I have a coffee nook in my kitchen, well, I'm a tea drinker, so I should call it a tea nook, but it was clearly designed as a coffee station. Anyway, since I have no need for a coffee maker, espresso machine, or any of those other coffee tools in my nook, I keep a small selection of cookbooks on the counter.

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It's well-thought-out; it's the books I love the most and use the most. Not just beautiful books that inspire me, it's incredible books that make me want to get in the kitchen and cook that very instant. Often, the pages have food splatters and can be a bit sticky, but that's even better for me.

The cookbooks that I use the most are written by Heidi Swanson from 101cookbooks.com. I first discovered her when I moved to California, and upon first meeting, I believe I told her that she taught me everything I know about California cuisine.

Heidi taught me how to shop at and how to love farmer's markets, and she taught me about Deborah Madison and all the other great chefs in California that are paving/had paved the way for eating REAL food. Because of Heidi, my top factor when choosing food is where was it produced and how was it produced.

I reach for her cookbooks after every farmer's market haul. Her stuff is vegetarian, yes, but it's the most flavorful, unique vegetarian food I've ever had that makes you never miss the meat, honest!

In full disclosure, my husband and I are part-time vegetarians. While most people do 'meatless Monday' and take one day off each week from meat, we actually only eat meat one day a week or so. It's not uncommon for us to call instant pot mac and cheese with a salad a Monday night dinner, and enjoy a my orzo pasta salad with feta or my pesto tortellini salad later in the week. Our one meat day might include my honey garlic chicken thighs.

But did you notice a theme? My vegetarian meals rely heavily on pasta. Not Heidi's.

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Heidi's recipes are inventive and far from your standard vegetarian recipes. I own all of her books, and I cook from them often.

Super Natural Every Day is the one I grab the most, though I am working my way through the very beautiful Near & Far.

Her dish called Otsu is something I make for company, especially company that has food allergies. Plus, it's my belief that she invented baked oatmeal, and the world is a much better place for it.

More details about this rye bread made without yeast:

Today, I'm sharing with you her recipe for rye bread. It doesn't have any yeast, and is technically a rye soda bread. It bakes up so crunchy, crusty, and beautiful that it took my breath away the first time I made it years ago.

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As I baked this rye bread recipe for possibly the one-hundredth time to photograph this for you, it still took my breath away when it emerged from the oven.

I can't help but run my finger over the indentations made with the knife before baking--that's where the real CRUST emerges.

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Soda bread made without deep slashes is now dead to me--this is the only way forward.

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Honestly, I can't believe I get to count Heidi as one of my friends. She inspires me so much. A woman who can make bread with just 4 ingredients that tastes this good is an angel.

I keep rye flour in my house now to make this rye bread whenever I have soup or stew on the stove. It comes together so quickly, and serving homemade bread with a meal makes me feel like I've got my life together.

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For some strange reason, my daughter isn't that into carbs, unless gnocchi is involved, and she frequently licks the butter off bread and leaves the bread.

However, she loves this rye bread. The dark color scared her at first, so I served it with the dill butter that Heidi recommends in the book, and it sold her. Most commonly, I serve it with salted European-style butter.

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Is rye bread gluten free?

No, it's not. I wanted to answer that question, because I know it will come up.

It's important to me that Camille learns to love bread and carbs, because there are so many B vitamins in whole grains. I am so grateful this rye bread recipe helps me accomplish that goal.

Rye flour can be a tough sell when it comes to whole grains, but I've been working it into my pancakes for two recipe, and I'm considering adding some to my small batch crepes recipe, too.

Ok, onto the recipe now. I hope you love this homemade rye bread recipe made without yeast. It will quickly go into your Fall rotation for serving alongside soup, and I'm sure it will find its way out again for St Patrick's Day since it's technically soda bread.

Yield: 1 small boule

Rye Bread

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Homemade rye bread made without yeast.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time50 minutes

Total Time1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 ⅓ cups (9.75 ounces) rye flour
  • 1 ¾ cups (8 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¾ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 2 cups (475 mL) buttermilk

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400, and ensure a wire rack is in the middle position. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Sift the flours, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.
  3. Make a well in the center of the flours and pour in all of the buttermilk at once. Stir just until a dough forms.
  4. Scoop the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 30 seconds to bring it together.
  5. Using your hands, press the dough into an even flat disk.
  6. Sprinkle the top of the dough disk with about 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
  7. Next, make 4 deep slashes into the dough, about two-thirds of the way through. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
  8. Bake for 30 minutes, and then move the dough to the top rack of the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes to crisp up the surface.
  9. Let cool on a wire rack completely before serving with salted butter.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 228Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 723mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g

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Rye Bread Recipe from scratch - No Yeast Rye Soda Bread (2024)

FAQs

Why won't my soda bread rise? ›

Not preheating your oven long enough will mean thst it isn't hot enough to get a good rise. Make sure the oven is up to temperature before you begin mixing the dough. Using a baking stone for good bottom heat will help your bread rise, but it needs at least 45 minutes to soak up the heat of the oven.

Why does Irish Soda Bread not need yeast? ›

The Irishmen learned to adapt to this climate by growing soft wheat that is lower in gluten. The type of flour from this wheat is not compatible with the yeast to make the dough rise; thus, they use baking soda instead to make the famed Irish Soda Bread.

What does bread soda do to bread? ›

Bicarbonate of soda gives off carbon dioxide, which expands in a mixture. Once the mixture is cooked, the carbon dioxide is replaced by air, leaving a light cake or bread. As with all raising agents, use the amount specified in the recipe.

Why is soda bread different to normal bread? ›

What is soda bread? Soda bread is a type of quick bread which takes its name from the baking soda (or, sodium bicarbonate) that is used as a leavening agent instead of the traditional yeast. Traditionally, soda bread is made using flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk.

How dry should soda bread dough be? ›

The oldest recipe for soda bread, widely syndicated from Ireland's Newry Times in 1836, says the dough was "as soft as could possibly be handled...the softer the better." Thirteen years and 180 miles down the road, the Waterford Times described it as "wetter than pie crust, too stiff to pour, but not stiff enough to ...

How do you make soda bread less dense? ›

If you leave it lying around, it loses its firepower = dense dough. 10 Knead Rule – Like all no yeast bread / muffin type recipes like Blueberry Muffins and Herb Garlic Quick Bread Loaf, the less you handle the dough, the softer the crumb. So don't knead more than 10 times!

Is Irish soda bread bad for you? ›

Nutrition Notes

Whole-wheat soda bread is a healthy addition to your plate! One serving—a 1/2-inch-thick slice—provides complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

What is the raising agent in soda bread? ›

Soda bread is a variety of quick bread made in many cuisines in which sodium bicarbonate (otherwise known as "baking soda", or in Ireland, "bread soda") is used as a leavening agent instead of yeast.

How to tell when soda bread is done? ›

Use a sharp knife to score the top of the dough into an "X" shape about an inch deep. This is to help heat get into the dough as it bakes. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. To check if the bread is done, when you tap the bottom of the bread it should sound hollow.

Is soda bread good for your gut? ›

This soda bread recipe – which uses bicarbonate of soda rather than yeast – allows you to whip up delicious home-made bread quickly, and give your gut health a massive boost in the process.

What is the best thing to eat with soda bread? ›

Irish soda bread made without sweeteners or raisins is a natural pairing with smoked salmon or smoked trout, strong cheeses like aged cheddar or the Irish Cashel blue, and as an accompaniment to bowls of hearty soup.

Does soda bread need to be kneaded? ›

Because soda bread is not yeasted bread, kneading it just makes it dense and hard. To develop its trademark soft crumb, you touch the dough as little as possible while shaping it. If you prefer a chewier kneaded bread texture but don't want to put in all that work, try our easy No-Knead Bread recipe.

Why put a cross on soda bread? ›

The Southern Irish regions bake their loaves in a classic round fashion and cut a cross on top of the bread. This was done for superstitious reasons, as families believed a cross on top of the bread would let the fairies out or ward off evil and protect the household.

Which is healthier, soda bread, or sourdough? ›

Both types of bread use flour and contain refined carbohydrates. Sourdough bread would be considered healthier in the fact that it is a fermented food with lower gluten levels, making it easier to digest.

Is soda bread healthier than yeast bread? ›

Soda bread is quick to prepare and is a low-fat, yeast-free option. It may help alleviate symptoms of bloating and discomfort. If you're new to baking or short on time, our seeded soda bread is an ideal loaf to bake at home.

What do I do if my bread doesn't rise? ›

But almost as good as a proofing box is taking a Mason jar filled halfway up with water, microwaving it for two minutes, then putting your bowl of dough into the microwave with the jar to rise. The other thing you can do is place your lidded container or bowl of dough into a second, larger bowl of warm water.

Why is my soda bread flat? ›

It might also be that you have added too much baking powder, baking soda or that you used self-rising flour. Make sure to double check your recipe. If your bread's texture is dry: You might have added too much baking soda, too little liquid or not baked it at high enough temperature.

What happens if you put too much baking soda in soda bread? ›

It's important not to use too much baking soda in recipes, as it can result in a metallic, soapy flavor. It is much more powerful than baking powder – you only need about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of flour to leaven baked goods.

How do you force bread to rise? ›

A Bowl of Steaming Water is the Key to Quickly Proofing Bread. In the winter, when your house and kitchen are at a crisp temperature and you need a warm spot for your dough to rise, create a makeshift “proof box” by placing a bowl of steaming water inside your oven alongside your bowl of dough.

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