The Chefs of the Round Table – England's Traditional Recipes

The times of the Arthurian legends are long gone, yet the spirit of the English mealtime has prevailed in its modern classics.  Browse ancient and contemporary English recipes and the customs of England's classic meal time culture.

Indian curries and Thai dishes have made their way into the traditional English cuisine, and the English "round table" has welcomed foreign knights to spice up the local favorites.  With an innate cultural preference for spice and flavor, the English cuisine is a fusion of its culturally diverse inhabitants and prior colonial conquests.  The British rule of India has opened the door for curry dishes to become an intrinsic part of the English diet.  English classic dishes however, are still the intrinsic part of the English diet.  Browse current and old time favorite recipes and ideas.

A fan of antique delicacies? If you are looking for ancient, the University of Wales Institute has recently named nettle pudding as the oldest recorded British recipe.  The pudding was made primarily from the nettle plant and other leafy vegetables and herbs and served as soup entrée rather than a desert. Who knew that the rash-causing nettle could be cooked into an old world delicacy?

Steak & Kidney Pie is a British cuisine signature piece traditionally served with mashed potatoes and vegetables as side dishes. Steak and kidneys are combined in thick gravy and enclosed in pastry dough.  Two layers of crust are often employed to prevent the filling from being soaked into the pastry shell.

Sunday Roast has become synonymous with Sunday brunch.  Sundays are days off and a great opportunity to spend time with the family, read the paper over a cup of English tea or coffee, and to enjoy a plate full of roasted meat and potatoes. Whether roasting pork, lamb, beef or chicken, getting the right taste down takes time and practice.  There are several variations in preparation methods, but most recipes require the  meat to be browned on both sides and then placed in the oven for up to 5 hours.  Be sure to start early to have the meal ready by lunch time.

Yorkshire pudding is a cup shaped pastry used to accompany meat dishes, such as the Sunday Roast.  A golden crust on the outside and soft, creamy dough on the inside are characteristic of traditional pudding.   Pudding cakes are served right on the plate with the roasted meat and vegetables.

Bubble and Squeak, believed to have been named as a result of the sound of its cooking process, is left over meat and cabbage revived from the night before into an important part of the traditional English breakfast.  English breakfasts are hearty and filling, and are usually a blend of breakfast and dinner items.  In older days, breakfast was the main source of energy for the long workday, often spent far from home.  Thus the first meal of the day has evolved into a morning feast.  Typical morning items may include eggs, sausages, black pudding (blood sausage), fried bacon, mushrooms, sliced tomatoes and hearty bread.

Toad-in-the-Hole.  Think of a giant Yorkshire pudding stuffed with sausages, and you have a classic Toad-in-the-Hole.  Traditional recipes make use of lard in the batter.  Although not the healthiest choice of fat, the lard does give the dish an authentic taste.  To make the most of the dish, choose large pork sausages worthy for the occasion.  The Toad-in-the-Hole is a pub favorite, and works well served with a mug of beer and sliced vegetables.

Fried fish and chips are the traditional English take out combo.  Fish fillets (usually cod fish) are coated in batter and deep fried in oil until a crispy golden crust is formed.  French fries, known as "chips" in England, will accompany the fried fish; salt and vinegar are the most common condiment.  Local pubs will often serve exceptionally prepared fish and chips, but for those who prefer not to set out too far, fish and chips sold from mobile vans is a common site in non-urban locations.