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Cuisine can provide a wealth of information about a country's history and culture, and British cuisine is no exception. Check out these traditional British foods and try them out on your next trip to the United Kingdom so you don’t miss out on these delectable dishes that have been immensely loved for years.
Roast dinner
Because the meat and vegetables could be left in the oven to cook while the family was away at church, the simple roast dinner began as a meal served after the Sunday church service. Today, a Sunday roast is still a popular element of British culture, with approximately one-fifth of the population enjoying a roast every week.
Full breakfast
A full breakfast, sometimes known as a 'fry-up,' consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, bread, tomatoes, and sometimes black pudding (blood sausage). This filling breakfast is popular in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and is frequently served on weekends. There are regional variations as well, like the 'Full Scottish,' which includes black pudding and 'tattie scones’.
Eton mess
Eton mess is a delicious dessert made with meringue, berries, and cream that is perfect for a hot summer day. The dish was first served at Eton College during school cricket matches in the late 1800s and is now popular throughout the United Kingdom.
Fish and chips
Nothing is more associated with British cuisine than fish and chips. However, if you don't order it in the appropriate area, this meal can be a bit disappointing. Look for chip shops that cook their fish fresh to order, rather than ones that have stacks of precooked fish behind the glass.
Shepherd’s pie
Shepherd's pie is a hearty and traditional British dish made mostly of minced lamb and potatoes that originated in Scotland and the North of England. Many households would prepare this meal with beef, although it should be called ‘cottage pie’ because shepherds exclusively herd sheep (of course).
Beef Wellington
A patê-coated beef fillet is folded in puff pastry to make beef Wellington. Despite the fact that the meal is named after the legendary Duke of Wellington, it has no connection to the British nobility. Beef Wellington is claimed to have been inspired by the French dish fillet de boeuf en croûte (fillet of beef in pastry).
Cornish pasty
Cornish pasties are a type of pastry stuffed with meat and vegetables that became popular among tin miners because they were easy to transport and consume without a plate or silverware. In British cuisine, the humble pasty has become indispensable. It's even been said that the South American empanada was inspired by them.
Steak and kidney pie
This much-loved British pie is a must-try while visiting the United Kingdom. What's not to appreciate about beef, kidney, fried onion, and gravy in puff pastry?
Toad in the hole
This substantial dish, which features sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter and is commonly served with sauce and veggies, is another simple recipe you can cook at home. Yorkshire puddings are very popular in the United Kingdom, as you may have imagined.
