When my son was in Class 3 in school, he once came home having baked Irish Soda Bread with his teacher. We have been a fan ever since and here is my modified multi-grain version.

MAKES: 1 loaf

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• 1 cup unsweetened soya milk (you can use almond milk or regular milk as well)

• 1 tablespoon vinegar

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (yellow)

• 1 - 2 tablespoons rolled oats to sprinkle

Method

1. Mix the soya milk and vinegar in a bowl and stir. Keep aside for 15 minutes so that it curdles.

2. Line a baking tray with baking paper and grease it with oil.

3. Sieve the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and baking soda.

4. Add rolled oats, sugar and salt in it.

5. Take this mixture in a big dish and now add the vinegar-milk mixture to it.

6. With the help of a big spoon, mix it with light hands in the same direction (not more than 10 times). It will be sticky and that is normal.

7. Now, in a flat dish, put 2 tablespoons of olive oil and with the spoon, scoop and put the sticky dough on it.

8. With the help of this oil and gentle hands, make this dough into a round shape. Do not knead the dough, otherwise your bread will be hard.

9. Pick up this round bread dough and place it on the greased tray. With wet hands, flatten it a little by pressing from the top. Don’t try to make the dough smooth because it won’t be. Just gather it into a loaf shape.

10. Now, with a knife, make a criss and cross from one end to the other, both ways. This is to allow the air to escape during baking.

11. Sprinkle rolled oats over the top and place in a preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes.

12. Remove from the oven and brush it with butter. (If you want the bread to be a darker brown and harder, you can bake it again for 5 minutes)

13. Leave it for 15 minutes to cool. Do not be tempted to cut right away or else it will break.

14. Cut long pieces and serve. You can make garlic bread or bruschetta out of it, eat with jam or nutella or serve with soup.

Helpful Tips

• The gentler you handle the dough, the softer your bread will turn out.

• Do not open the oven before the 20 minutes are done.

• Do not expect it to be a very soft bread as it is made without yeast, but the taste is delicious!