Just as we in the Netherlands cannot do without the frikandel speciaal, the English also have their established habits when it comes to food. The British do not have the best reputation when it comes to culinary delights, but they have made quite a splash in recent years. For example, in addition to English breakfast and afternoon tea, you'll find the famous stews and a wide variety of curries. Wondering what to expect when you sit down at the English table? Then read on!
English breakfast
If you want to start your day right, a real English breakfast, or the fry-up, is not to be missed. On your plate you will find fried eggs, sausages, white beans in tomato sauce and bacon. In addition, this breakfast is characterized by ingredients such as mushrooms, toast with butter and potatoes. Thus, you are guaranteed to start your day without feeling hungry!
English lunch
The British also make a point of lunch. Whereas in the Netherlands we quickly shove a sandwich with cheese down our throats, the British usually eat hot lunch. They regularly do this in the pub, where they order fish and chips, for example. This fried meal consists of thick French fries and white fish, such as haddock or cod, with a crispy crust. To top it off, they serve it with some salt and a little vinegar. Sometimes it is accompanied by a pea sauce, or mushy peas. But soup with bread is also not an uncommon lunch dish in England.
Afternoon tea
When the clock strikes four, it is high time for a veritable paradise of tasty snacks. The English drink their cups of tea around this time and enjoy delicious, sweet treats, including the well-known scones, muffins, cookies and cheesecake. Scones are slightly sweet sandwiches and get their name from the Old Dutch word clean bread. You will also regularly encounter wraps, fish pies and sandwiches with cucumber or salmon during the English afternoon snack.
Time for dinner!
Beef Wellington is one of the most famous dishes in England. The British make this meal with tenderloin, which they garnish with mushrooms and herbs. The tenderloin is then wrapped in puff pastry and placed in the oven to continue cooking.
Shepherd's pie is also a true classic in the United Kingdom. This casserole consists of minced lamb with mashed potatoes and vegetables. By the way, there is also a version with minced beef, which goes by the name Cottage pie. If you love potatoes, then you will definitely like the Jacket potato! This is a jacket potato stuffed with white beans in tomato sauce or cheese.
Sunday roast
Sunday afternoon is all about fair food. Many will no doubt think of the Sunday roast. This dish involves a large piece of roast meat. Potatoes with gravy, vegetables and Yorkshire pudding are all side dishes that are part of the Sunday roast. Yorkshire pudding is an airy batter that is fried crisp. Nowadays, the British also put this fare on the table during the week. You will also increasingly find multicultural dishes in Britain's cuisine, such as curry, falafel and roti. These dishes were introduced by immigrants and embraced by the British.
British desserts
A delicious evening meal should, of course, be concluded with an equally delicious dessert. Consider, for example, a delicious trifle. This dessert has several layers. You start with cake, which you sprinkle with a little sherry, then a layer of fruit and finally custard. Plum pudding, rice pudding and apple crumble are also common on the English dinner table. Furthermore, the British like to prepare bread and butter pudding.
The holidays
In the United Kingdom, you see certain dishes recurring regularly during the holidays. For example, according to tradition, the British eat hot cross buns on Good Friday. These are round buns with raisins and cinnamon, which you recognize by the cross at the top.
During Christmas, Britons enjoy their beloved pudding, which they prepare in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Finally, the Simnel cake is a fruit cake that Britons eat in the middle of Lent. On the cake are marzipan balls, which symbolize the twelve apostles.
Are you in the mood for fish and chips?
At our children's camp we take children on a culinary journey to the United Kingdom. They can enjoy typical British dishes such as fish and chips, shepherd's pie, and bangers and mash. We also introduce them to treats such as scones with clotted cream and jam, and English tea. These flavorful experiences offer not only a chance to discover new flavors, but also to understand the cultural diversity of the United Kingdom.
