Cherry Tomato, Fennel White soda bread topped with smoked Maldon Sea Salt

This is a delicious and very simple bread to make.

I love Maldon sea salt and found this smoked version of it today. Most good food shops deli will supply it. The smokey flavour really brings out the a lovely flavour in the bread. How ever if you cant find it don't fret regular sea salt will work perfectly

Make 1 x 1lb loaf

Preparation time 5 minutes
Cooking time 40-60 minutes
Preheat oven 230oc or gas 8

Ingredients:

450 g plain flour
1 teaspoon smoked sea salt
I level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda or bread soda.
550 ml butter milk
1tsp tomato purée
6-8 cherry tomatoes quartered
1 tsp of crushed fennel seeds

Method:
Sieve flour salt and bicarbonate of soda
Add the cherry tomatoes and fennel seeds to a bowl then
Place all dry ingredients in the bowl
Whisk the tomato purée into the butter milk
Pour all the milk mixture in the centre in one go

Stir the mixture quickly with one hand in one direction.
The dough should be soft but not too wet when it's all together.
Turn out on to a well flour surface tidy it up and pop into a well greased bread tin.
Top with some more of the smoked sea salt.
Place in oven and turn down heat after 10 minutes
Then cook for a further 30 minutes
When cooked the bread should sound hollow when tapped at the bottom
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Keeps for 2-3 days.
Delicious with homemade soups
Enjoy!