7 British classics every home cook should know

Now that we’ve long been reassured that plenty of good things can also come from the United Kingdom gastronomically speaking, we can turn our attention once again to typically English classics. Convinced that you should mainly use good-quality ingredients, you can happily have a go at these properly British dishes!

Granted: for a long time, British cuisine wasn’t exactly known for scoring highly in culinary terms when it came to, erm, deliciousness. But with the arrival of the gastropub, an enormous amount has changed over the past few decades. Eating out there is no longer something you’d rather avoid until you’re back home.

From Jamie to Gordon

The quintessentially British Jamie Oliver has of course done an enormous amount to boost the country’s food image, and has got millions of Brits cooking at home. We ♥ Nigella forever, the hip Hemsley sisters are frontrunners in the global vegetarian and vegan world, and Gordon Ramsay has of course been lecturing chefs in other countries for years too. Now it’s your turn! These 7 British dishes belong in every home cook’s repertoire:

Victoria Sponge

Sponge cake sounds less appealing, but the texture of this cake should at least be light and airy. You’ll automatically see all the Great British Bake Off contestants straighten their backs out of patriotism when they’re tested on this. It’s not difficult at all, yet looks prettier than your standard soggy cake; try this recipe, for example.

Bread and Butter Pudding

It can be this easy: heat 400 ml whole milk, 400 ml cream and a pinch of salt in a saucepan until just boiling, then turn off the heat. Stir in a teaspoon of vanilla extract. In a large bowl, mix 5 eggs with 150 grams of sugar. Pour the milk and cream over it. Arrange old slices of white bread in a baking dish, add a little fruit or raisins if you like, and no Brit will bat an eyelid if you also pour in a splash of whiskey. Pour the (custard) mixture over it through a sieve and bake for three quarters of an hour in an oven preheated to 180° C. Done.

Fish and Chips

Obviously. Here’s our recipe.

Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding

FavorFlav’s Vincent previously described this irresistible imported trend, which you could enjoy in many a restaurant. And hopefully again soon! If you’re getting started at home, we recommend one of the recipes from the equally British BBC Good Food. That Yorkshire Pudding is confusingly not a dessert, by the way, but a little mould of savoury pancake batter served with the roast meat.

The Full English

As soon as we can, we’ll hop across the Channel again to get one in London, but until then we’ll make do ourselves. For a breakfast of champions, we fry eggs, gammon, a sausage, mushrooms and tomato halves. It’s not complete without a tin of warmed-up baked beans in tomato sauce and slices of white toast. You’ll be able to drink pints for the rest of the day.

Shepherd’s Pie

Thoroughly British, this nostalgic oven dish of minced meat, vegetables and a mashed-potato topping. Perhaps not a culinary masterpiece, but hey, we have stamppot… Jamie Oliver also has a good recipe for a vegan version, by the way!

Chicken Tikka Masala

And as the finale, the cheerful odd one out. Although, odd… Chicken Tikka has been one of England’s most-eaten dishes for years, and is eagerly enjoyed by people from all walks of life. So it’s hardly surprising that it has been included as one of Britain’s National Dishes. Here’s a recipe from the fantastic chef and cookbook author Meera Sodha. Sodha much; do yourself a favour and buy her cookbooks!

Read also:

• Which 7 French classics really belong in your culinary repertoire?
• These tips will help you make the most delicious baked potatoes
• Don’t miss these pubs in Shoreditch!