Kale makes this herb soda bread bright green, plus it adds health benefits and makes it lovely and moist. This easy no yeast, no knead bread is full of flavour.
Heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6 and grease a baking sheet with a little oil or line it with baking paper.
Tear the kale leaves into bite sized pieces and boil or steam them for a few minutes until tender. Refresh by running under cold water to cool, then drain, squeeze out any excess moisture and puree to a paste with a hand blender. Note: Kale can be fibrous, so if necessary add a little of the buttermilk to aid pureeing.
Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, herbs, sea salt and sugar into a large mixing bowl, adding any sifted out herbs or salt back to the bowl, and make a well in the middle.
Stir the pureed kale into the buttermilk, then add it to the well in the dry mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon until it forms a sticky dough.
With floured hands, pat the dough into a ball and flatten slightly, then place on the baking sheet.
Cut a deep cross across the top with a knife and sprinkle it with a little flour.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden and tapping the bottom of the soda bread makes a hollow sound. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
Notes
Make it vegan: use non-dairy milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice instead of buttermilk