Seeded Asiago and Rosemary Soda Bread with Chili Butter
A pretty and delicious soda bread, filled with cheese and rosemary and served with a great chili butter.
Prep Time15mins
Cook Time40mins
Total Time55mins
Servings: 8servings
Ingredients
For bread:
3cupsall purpose flour
2tspbaking powder
1 1/2tspbaking soda
3/4tspsea salt
5Tbspbuttercut into 10 pieces
2cupsAsiago cheesegrated
6inchsprig fresh rosemaryfinely chopped
1 1/2cupsbuttermilkplus more for brushing
1/3cupmixed seedssunflower, flax, sesame, poppy seed etc.
For Chili Butter:
1/2cupbutterat room temperature
1/2tspdried chili flakes
1clovegarlicminced
1Tbsplemon juice
Instructions
For bread: Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a 6 1/2-inch bottom diameter cast iron skillet (or 7-8 inch round baking pan) and set aside.
Prepare the seed mixture and set aside (I used 2 Tbsp sunflower seeds, 2 Tbsp sesame seeds, 1 Tbsp flaxseed and 1 Tbsp poppy seeds)
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the butter pieces to the bowl and using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cheese and rosemary. Add enough buttermilk to the flour mixture to form a soft, sticky dough (I usually use all of the 1 1/2 cups). Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead gently a few times, just until smooth. Shape dough into a 7-inch-ish round.
Sprinkle some of the seed mixture onto the bottom of a greased skillet or baking pan. Place dough on top of seeds. Brush top of dough with more buttermilk, then scatter remaining seeds over the top and sides of dough. Dip a knife in flour, then cut an shallow X into the top of the dough.
Bake bread in preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with chili butter.
For Chili Butter: Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl.