All You Need to Know About Traditional British Cuisine

All You Need to Know About Traditional British Cuisine

So you’ve made it to London, a melting pot of cuisines from all over the world; best believe you’re going to gorge on at least a few traditional dishes while you’re here!

There is nothing like a home cooked British feast. Should any opportunity arise for you to enjoy one, be sure to gracefully accept the invitation. Until then, these are all the meals you want to look out for when reading a menu on the town.

What You Need To Know

Something to note before getting into the specifics of each dish, is that because of centuries of colonialism, British cuisine has shifted many times along the way. What was once rich indigenous culinary traditions are now the product of years of foreign native’s influence.

The regions that seem to have had the strongest influence on British cuisine are Southeast Asia, Anglo-Indian, Baltic lands and many of the islands. English cuisine in particular draws influence from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Cottage Pie – by Acabashi – Wikimedia Commons

It is though that the British foods we enjoy today only really took off after the 2nd World War, when cooking emerged as response to years of food rations and depressive eating during the times of turmoil. After a war there is easier access to fresh produce and hard-to-find ingredients, and kitchens become far more creative spaces.

Foods You Need To Try

It doesn’t take much effort to track down authentic British foods while in London. Most restaurants will identify themselves with a British flag of sorts on the outside of their establishment; these can be easily spotted while out and about or on a guided walking tour.

Cost of local cuisine will differ depending on the establishment in question. Like any major city in the world, there are fine dining experiences and there are budget eateries. London is no different, and one can realistically pay £50 for a Sunday roast in Notting Hill, and £10 for one in Shoreditch.

A Sunday Roast – by Acabashi – Wikimedia Commons

Fish & Chips

A meal that should never cost you more than £10 while in London is a good old plate of fish and chips. The Brits pride themselves on being the reps for this worldwide phenomenon, and you can eat it on virtually every street corner (no exaggeration).

Traditional fish and chips would be your choice of fish, battered and fried & served with a side of chips, tartar sauce, mushy pease and occasionally coleslaw. Don’t even take a bite until your doused your plate in fresh squeezed lemon and licked your fingers for good measure.

by Nick Fewings – Unsplash

Bread & Butter Pudding

Those with a sweet tooth will love the Brits and their bread & butter pudding. This is typically a desert, though it’s hearty enough as a meal on its own if you’re feeling really “treat yourself”.

It’s made by layering slices of buttered stale bread atop one another and dousing the whole dish in an egg and custard mix. Raisins are added and the whole tray is baked into a sweet, gooey delight.

by DuncanHarris – Wikimedia Commons

Bangers & Mash

A meal you can always rely on to find you at 3am in your nearest pub. Bangers & mash can also be called sausages & mash, which is essentially all there is to this dish.

Mashed potatoes, sausages, gravy and sometimes peas all heaped together in a hearty plate of goodness. Very easy to find in London; also very easy to make at home.

by Qwerty Binary – Wikimedia Commons

Toad in the Hole

The name of this dish still baffles me, because Brits maintain it looks like a toad poking out of a hole whilst being cooked. It doesn’t. But nevertheless this is a crowd favorite and consists of sausages cooked with vegetables and onion gravy inside of Yorkshire pudding mix.

It’s rich, it’s hot and it contains no toads, promise.

by Robert Gibert – Wikimedia Commons

The Cornish Pasty

Growing up I loved a good Cornish pasty from the local pie shop down the road. These traditionally contain meat, gravy, peas and carrots all bundled together in a thick moon-shaped pie.

Another dish very easy to find around London Town; also great as an eat-while-you-walk snack during a guided walking tour or running between metro stations.

by David Johnson – Wikimedia Commons

An English Breakfast

Every morning millions of people across the world start their day to an traditional English breakfast fry up. You probably do to and perhaps you didn’t even know it was British, did you?

Sunny side up eggs, sausages, bacon, baked beans, toast, grilled tomato, mushrooms and hopefully a hash brown if you’re really lucky.

If you’re staying in a hotel during your time in London you’ll definitely be treated to an English breakfast buffet each morning.

by Andy Wang – Unsplash

Cottage Pie

Known on the London streets as shepherd’s pie, cottage pie is a dish that is made in just about every British home at least once a week.

There actually is a difference in the names; cottage pies uses beef as protein, shepherd’s pie uses lamb. The bases are combined with vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes that are baked until gold on top, forming a pie-like crust.

There is nothing quite like it in the winter!

by Abhinaba Basu – Wikimedia Commons

A Sunday Roast

Another dish made once a week in just about every British home is a good old Sunday Roast. These are served either at lunch time or dinner, and are a compilation plate of beef, chicken, pork, lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and vegetables. One’s plate is then doused in gravy leaving no bite uncovered.

As travelers it can be hard to participate in a traditional Sunday roast if you’ve not been invited by a local. There are many pubs around London that hold massive public roasts on Sunday afternoons for families to enjoy. Booking for these is very necessary.

A Sunday Roast – by Edward – Wikimedia Commons