Bushra Griffith
Goat's cheese is a popular ingredient in bread, and for good reason—it's delicious! There are many different types of goat's cheese bread, from soda bread to beer bread, and even a goat's cheese, bacon, and olive quick bread. But when is the best time to fold in the goat's cheese? In most recipes, the goat's cheese is folded in towards the end, just before the mixture is placed in the pan to bake. This is because goat's cheese is quite a soft cheese, and folding it in at the end helps to keep the pieces intact and prevents them from breaking up.
When to fold in goat cheese into soda bread
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of bread | Soda bread |
| Type of cheese | Goat's cheese |
| When to fold in goat cheese | After mixing dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately and then combining them |
| How to fold in goat cheese | Carefully, trying not to break the pieces |
| How much to fold | 2-3 strokes |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the goat's cheese
Preparing the goat cheese is a crucial step in making delicious and fluffy soda bread. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
Firstly, it is important to choose the right type of goat cheese for your bread. Soft and crumbly goat cheese, such as chèvre, works best in soda bread. You can find this type of goat cheese in most grocery stores. It typically comes in logs or tubs and has a mild, tangy flavour that pairs well with other ingredients in the bread.
Before incorporating the goat cheese into your dough, you should crumble it into small pieces. This step ensures that the cheese is evenly distributed throughout the bread, creating a consistent texture and flavour. Use your fingers to gently break down the cheese into small, pea-sized crumbles. Be careful not to handle the cheese too much, as it can become creamy and sticky.
Once you have prepared the dry ingredients for your soda bread, you can add the crumbled goat cheese. Typically, the cheese is folded into the dough along with other mix-ins such as herbs, spices, or dried fruit. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to gently fold the cheese into the dough, being careful not to overmix. The goal is to incorporate the cheese without melting it, as you want small pockets of cheese throughout the bread.
The timing of adding the goat cheese is essential. It is usually added towards the end of the mixing process, after combining the wet and dry ingredients. This helps prevent overmixing, which can affect the texture of the bread and cause the cheese to melt too much.
Finally, after you've folded in the goat cheese, it's time to shape the dough and bake it. Follow your soda bread recipe's instructions for baking temperature and time. The baking process will transform the dough into a delicious, fluffy loaf infused with melted pockets of goat cheese.
Preparing the goat cheese for soda bread is a simple yet important step. By choosing the right type of cheese, crumbling it appropriately, and folding it into the dough at the right time, you can ensure your soda bread has a delightful texture and flavour. Enjoy the process of creating this tasty treat!
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Mixing the dough
To make the dough for your goat cheese soda bread, you'll first need to prepare your dry ingredients. In a large bowl, sift and whisk together your flour, bicarbonate of soda, and a pinch of salt. If you're making a soda bread with additional grains or seeds, add these to the dry ingredients now.
In a separate bowl, prepare your wet ingredients. If your recipe calls for eggs, whisk them first, before adding any other liquid ingredients like milk, buttermilk, or olive oil. If your recipe includes fresh herbs, you can whisk them in with the wet ingredients, or add them to the dry ingredients—just be sure to chop them finely first.
Once your wet and dry ingredients are prepared, it's time to combine them. Make a well in the centre of your dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, gently stir the two together until they are just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough—this can affect the texture of your bread.
Finally, it's time to add the goat cheese. Crumble the cheese into small pieces and gently fold it into the dough. Try not to break up the cheese too much as you mix, as you want there to be distinct pieces throughout your bread.
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Baking the soda bread
Next, prepare the batter by combining the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until just combined. Create a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and slowly pour in the wet mixture, stirring continuously until everything is combined. Then, fold in the goat cheese. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the surface.
Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6 and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped. The bread is best when it is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Once the bread is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then, run a knife around the loaf to loosen it and invert it onto a plate to cool completely. This bread is best eaten on the day it is made, but it can be stored well-wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to a week.
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Removing from the oven
Once your goat cheese soda bread has been in the oven for 15 minutes, turn the oven down to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. After that initial 15-minute bake, the loaf should be taken out of the oven and sprinkled with the remaining goat cheese and thyme. Then it's back into the oven for another 30 minutes. You'll know it's done when it sounds hollow when tapped.
This type of soda bread is best eaten on the day it's made, but it can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month. If you're warming it through, do so in the oven rather than the toaster, as it's quite crumbly.
If you're making a goat cheese bread that isn't soda bread, you might bake it for 40 minutes, then cover the loaf tightly with foil and bake for another 40 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and let it stand for five minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack and invert the bread so it's resting seed side up.
For a Honey, Chive, and Goat Cheese Bread, you'll bake for about an hour. Once baked, this bread can be sliced and stored in the freezer. When you want a piece, just pull it out of the freezer and warm it up with some unsalted butter in a skillet.
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Serving and storing
While goat cheese soda bread doesn't seem to be a common recipe, there are plenty of recipes for soda bread that include other ingredients, such as raisins and caraway seeds. There is also a lot of information on how to serve and store traditional Irish soda bread, which can be adapted to suit your goat cheese soda bread.
Serving
Irish soda bread is a basic staple in Ireland and is served in a variety of ways. It can be served:
- Warm with butter.
- Toasted and smeared with butter, alongside a hearty Irish stew, or with slices of cheddar as a midday snack.
- With butter and jam for breakfast.
- With slices of cheddar and chutney for a rustic lunch.
- With a bottle of Guinness.
- For St. Patrick's Day or any time of the year.
Storing
To store your soda bread, wrap it in plastic or place it in an airtight container, a breadbox, or a resealable bag. This will prevent the bread from getting stale.
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Frequently asked questions
The best way to fold in goat cheese into soda bread is to sprinkle the goat cheese over the batter and gently fold it in with just 2 or 3 strokes. Try not to break the pieces of goat cheese as you go.
You should fold in goat cheese into soda bread after you have combined the wet and dry ingredients.
To make goat cheese soda bread, you will need goat cheese, flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, milk or buttermilk, and any additional ingredients of your choice such as herbs, spices, or vegetables.
Preheat your oven to 350-425°F. Butter or spray a 9-inch loaf pan. Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Fold in the goat cheese, then pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Goat cheese soda bread is best eaten on the day it is made. However, it can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.
