Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
Leek and red leicester soda bread on a board with a couple of slices cut, and a small dish of butter and bread bag on the side.

Leek and Red Leicester Soda Bread

By: Deborah
This leek and red leicester soda bread is a quick, no-yeast savoury loaf packed with cheesy flavour and sweet leeks. Easy to make in one bowl and perfect served warm with soup or butter. 
PREP: 15 minutes
COOK: 55 minutes
TOTAL: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 20 g (0.7 oz) butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large leek (approx. 250g) finely sliced and rinsed to remove any hidden dirt
  • 300 g (10.6 oz) plain flour plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • a small handful of thyme sprigs leaves picked
  • 100 g (3.5 oz) red leicester coarsely grated
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 250 ml (1 cup) buttermilk (see Notes)
  • salted butter to serve

Instructions

  • Heat the butter and oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, add the leeks, then turn up the heat to medium high and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Remove to a bowl and leave to cool.
  • Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the flour into a bowl and add the leeks, bicarbonate of soda, thyme leaves, grated red leicester and 1.5 tsp salt. Pour in the buttermilk and use a wooden spoon to bring everything together.
  • Briefly knead the dough on a lightly floured work surface to just to bring it together into a ball. Transfer to a baking tray dusted with flour. Slash a cross into the top of the dough ball, then bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  • Serve the bread warm, cut into thick slices and slathered with some salted butter.

Notes

  • If you don’t have buttermilk to make this leek and red Leicester soda bread, mix 250ml milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice and leave for 10 minutes.  
  • Optional variations: 
    • Cheese swaps – instead of red leicester, use, mature cheddar, gruyere or a parmesan and mozzarella mix. 
    • Add extra herbs like chives or rosemary. 
    • Make it spicy by adding chilli flakes or stir in diced jalapeños. 
    • Add texture by adding chopped sundried tomatoes, caramelised onions or crispy bacon bits. 
    • Wholemeal version – replace half the flour with wholemeal for a nuttier loaf. 
 
You might also like to try:   
 

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 665IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

KEYWORDS easy savoury loaf recipe, Irish-style cheese soda bread, leek and cheese soda bread, no yeast cheese bread, quick bread with leeks, red leicester soda bread, savoury soda bread recipe, soda bread for soup
Leave a star rating and comment below!