English food: 3 recipes to travel without scales to England

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Paulina Cocina! It's our pleasure to introduce you to a new chapter of food and culinary curiosities from around the world. Today we'll be talking about English food , along with a few interesting facts about this culture. We'll highlight three must-try recipes that are a true direct ticket to England, without any stops.

English cuisine is often considered rather bland compared to other European countries. However, there are many interesting and tasty dishes to be found in England, and in this article, I'll discuss some of my favorite English dishes and their respective preparation methods!

If you're new here, I'll tell you that in this series, we talk about many beautiful and interesting things about a particular country's gastronomy, exploring its full potential, and finally, we find new, easy recipes to add to our daily meals. Let's get started!

About English food

Before we begin, let's clarify a little what we mean when we talk about English cuisine and what the difference is with British cuisine, as it can be confusing. 

In short, these two terms could mean almost the same thing, since a British person is called a person living in the United Kingdom, and an English person is called a person living in England. You might say, yes, it's the same thing... but pay attention here because today we're only going to analyze dishes from English cuisine . Without overlooking the fact that many of the culinary traditions we're talking about are likely shared in other parts of the United Kingdom, but another day we'll talk about these other Scottish or Welsh customs.

There are many features of English cuisine that make it unique, but one of the most characteristic is its simplicity. English food is generally heavy and filling, making it ideal for a cold winter day. The common ingredients in English dishes are potatoes, meat, and vegetables. Although there are many regional variations of English cuisine, some of the most popular dishes are shepherd's pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash, and roast beef.

England and its gastronomy

English cuisine has a very unique history , with influences from all over the world. Starting with the simple fact that Romans, Saxons, and Vikings all colonized England at different times, each contributed their tastes and skills to England's culinary traditions.

When the Romans conquered England, they brought with them modern staples like cherries, cabbage, peas, and wine —basics of English cuisine. The Vikings, meanwhile, established the great tradition of smoking meats , creating everyday dishes such as smoked fish in English homes.

Beyond these basic influences, English food has a wide variety of culinary traditions that come from many other parts of the world, thanks to trade. Foreign spices are a major marker of the international influence on English cuisines; some, such as ginger, cinnamon, pepper, and vanilla, are part of the basic flavor profile found in England.

What is the most famous food in England?

Some might say that England's most famous food is fish and chips, while others might say it's the traditional English breakfast. However, one dish that definitely stands out as uniquely English is the pudding.

There are many types of pudding, but the most popular and well-known is probably the Christmas pudding. This festive dish is made with a variety of ingredients, such as dried fruit, spices, and often a splash of brandy or rum. It is then steamed for several hours before being served with a dollop of cream or custard.

3 traditional English food recipes

Let's get to the important stuff. Now let's talk about two super-basic recipes that anyone traveling to England can't miss. Or we can make them at home today and save on airfare—a luxury.

English Food #1: Yorkshire Pudding

This first English meal is a truly classic staple in English cuisine , so it's a good start. The famous British pudding . It's a super light and airy bread , and now I'll tell you the fundamental trick to making this pudding perfect, but just between us: The trick is to make the mixture puff up just right in the oven, and this is achieved by baking it in a preheated oven with preheated baking tins. It's only natural that whoever makes it and gets it so puffy feels proud of their achievement.

The ingredients for this homemade puffed bread are only four , we see them below.

Ingredients for 12 puddings

• 3 large eggs
• ¾ cup of milk .
• ¾ cup of flour .
• ½ cup melted butter (can also be oil or other fat).

How to make Yorkshire pudding

1. Before starting it is important to preheat the oven to 200°.
2. We start by beating the eggs and milk until foamy, then mix this with the sifted flour and a pinch of salt (about three-quarters of a tablespoon). There's no need to overbeat; simply beat when you achieve a uniform mixture, a sort of cream with a few bubbles. Let this rest, covered with a bag or plastic wrap, at room temperature for 30 minutes.
3. On the other hand, we add about a teaspoon of butter or fat to each muffin tin and place it in the oven for a short while to warm them up, for about 5-7 minutes.
4. Then we fill each mold halfway with the mixture and return it to the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the desserts are golden brown. 

These Yorkshire puddings are served immediately, topped with a little melted butter or whatever you like; they can be sweet or savory to your liking.

English Food #2: English Pancakes

This second typical recipe is very simple. These English pancakes first appeared in cookbooks in the 15th century and have been a classic English everyday dish . They are a thin pancake very similar to the French crêpe. They are traditionally rolled up and eaten with sugar and lemon.

Ingredients for 24 pancakes

• 250 grams of all-purpose flour .
• 2 large eggs milk .
• 4 tablespoons of melted butter .

How to make English pancakes

1. Place the sifted flour in a large bowl along with a small pinch of salt. Make a space in the center of the flour mixture and place the beaten eggs, along with half the milk and the melted butter. Whisk until combined.
2. Add the remaining milk and continue beating. Then let the mixture sit for 15 minutes.
3. On the other hand, lightly grease a frying pan with oil or butter and heat until very hot.
4. This last step is to add the mixture with a ladle or spoon so that it evenly covers the entire base of the pan. Cook until set and lightly browned.
5. At this point, we flick the pan to make sure the pancake is completely loose from the base and flip it to cook the other side for another 30 seconds. You can also use a spatula to flip it, but it's not as fun that way.
6. We repeat the process with the entire mixture.

Two tremendous classics to help you sit down and enjoy tea accompanied by luxurious international delicacies. Other classics we can't miss are these English Muffins .

English Food #3: English Roast Beef

Now, finally, let's talk about the most typical of the typical dishes, the one eaten every Thursday in English homes: traditional English Roast Beef. Don't miss it; it's delicious and very easy to make.

Ingredients

• 1 kg of beef loin.
• ½ tablespoon of mustard.
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• 1 clove of garlic.
• Paprika.
• Nutmeg.
• Rosemary.

How to cook an English Roast Beef step by step

1. Using a knife, trim any excess fat from the loin. Then, tie four crisscrossed knots along its length with thread.
2. In a bowl, mix the mustard with the salt, oil, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, the chopped garlic clove, along with a pinch of paprika, nutmeg, and rosemary.
3. Marinate the meat with this mixture and let it rest for a couple of hours.
4. After the time has passed, place the meat on a rack or baking tray, baste the meat again with the marinade sauce and place it in a preheated oven at 150° and cook for 1 hour. 
5. Then turn off the oven and leave the meat inside for 10 more minutes.
6. To serve, cut the meat into thin slices and top with mustard or the sauce of your choice.