British cuisine
Britain is famous for its traditions and customs and so is its multicultural cuisine. Traditional British cuisine is abundant, yet simple and nourishing. Simple to an extent, that from time immemorial, it has been known the world over for its simplicity. It is a result of the country’s pleasant climate, geography and its history.
External influences have resulted in a cuisine tilted towards strong flavours, such as garlic and exclusion from the use of complex sauces.
The staple foods of Britain are meat, fish, potatoes, flour, butter and eggs. Typical British foods include sandwiches, fish and chips, and pies like cornish pasty, trifle and roast dinners. Most of their dishes are based on these foods. Although some traditional dishes such as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, Cornish pasties, steak and kidney pie, bread and butter pudding, or fish and chips, remain popular, there has been a considerable shift in eating habits in Britain. Vegetable and salad oils have largely replaced the use of butter. Today there is more emphasis on fine, fresh ingredients.
Talk of preserves and usually the ones that first come to your mind are jams, jellies and marmalade. Pickles and preserves are influences of the British Empire. The range includes a large selection of marmalades, lemon curd, chutneys and local honey with condiments such as tomato sauce and the English mustard (which has a pungent taste and a strong flavour). Mustard is usually served with meat and cooked cheese.
Classic British Meal
The British are very fond of potatoes, especially in the countryside. Any typical British meal, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, is sure to have potatoes. A wonderful British delicacy is the fast food Pasty (Meat, potatoes, vegetables and warm gravy are wrapped in a bakery crust). Traditional meals, namely, bread and cheese have an early origin. Other examples include roasted and stewed meats, meat and game pies, freshwater and saltwater fish and some form of curry. As a consequence of Asian influence, curries from India and Bangladesh, and stir-fries based on Chinese and Thai cooking have become popular elements of British cuisine.
Breakfast
The English breakfast (also known as “cooked breakfast” or “fried breakfast”) is a classic meal. Its ingredients vary but it usually consists of a mixture of bacon, grilled tomatoes, fried bread, black pudding, baked beans, fried mushrooms, sausages, eggs (fried, scrambled, poached or boiled and its variants). Hash browns are sometimes added. Young children prefer “soldiers” (finger-shaped pieces of bread to be dipped in the yolk of a lightly boiled egg). These days, however, a typical English breakfast is most likely to be a bowl of cereals, a slice of toast, orange juice and a cup of coffee as opposed to the historical ‘full English’ breakfast. Cereals are made with different grains such as corn, wheat, oats, etc. In winters, many people prefer to eat “porridge” or boiled oats.
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch usually consists of a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a fruit and the meal is finished with a drink. Sandwiches are also known as a ‘Butty’ or ‘Sarnie’ in some parts of UK. Sunday lunch time is a typical time to eat the Sunday roast. Traditionally, it comprised of roast meat, (cooked in the oven for about two hours), two different kinds of vegetables and potatoes culminating with a Yorkshire pudding. Beef, lamb or pork and even chicken are popular. A typical British meal for dinner is “meat and two vegetables”, and hot brown gravy, (made from the juices of the roast meat and vegetables) to go with it. Rice or pasta are standard dinner dishes. Wine is usually served with meals, though for semi-formal and informal meals beer or Cider may also be drunk.
Dessert
Pies and puddings are famous throughout Britain and can be made from a short dough or puff pastry. Snacks and bar food are often in pie form: pasties that have a filling. Pudding consists of many original home-made desserts such as Bread and Butter pudding, Eccles cake, Rhubarb crumble, Apple pie, Treacle tart; spotted dick pudding, summer pudding, and the famous trifle. The conventional accompaniment for many of the above mentioned desserts is custard, sometimes known as Crème Anglaise (English sauce), or English cream made with eggs and milk to the French.
Other Popular Dishes
Fish ‘n’ Chips – Amazingly crackly and flaky, Fish n chips is the traditional take-away food of England. Fresh cod is the most common fish and other types of fish include Haddock, Huss, and Plaice. Fresh fish is dusted in flour and then in batter and deep fried. It is then served with chips (fresh not frozen) usually with salt and vinegar added.
Trivia
- High Tea- The British working population did not have Afternoon Tea. This meal was called ‘high tea’ or just ‘tea’. Traditionally eaten early evening, High tea was a significant meal that combined tasty sweet foods, such as scones, cakes, buns or tea breads, with tempting savouries, such as cheese on toast, toasted crumpets, and cold meat.
- In the Victorian era, during the British Raj, Britain first started borrowing Indian dishes, creating Anglo-Indian cuisine, some of which is still eaten today. No wonder Chicken Tikka masala is very popular in UK!