English can certainly be proud of beer, language, atmospheric pubs, monuments, multiculturalism – that’s what we will definitely envy. However, there are many stereotypes about what is on a traditional English plate, most associate England with fish, beans, and fried bacon. It is said that the local dishes are bland, greasy, without panache. Others rave about them (and they are not native islanders). So how is it with her finally? What is real English cuisine like? Check it out yourself!
English cuisine: tradition and modernity
English cuisine is part of a wider family of British cuisine and it is always worth keeping this in mind when we want to evaluate it. If someone wanted to be tempted to characterize the dietary habits of English people, they would definitely notice how little importance they attach to food. A good contrasting example here is Italian or Greek culture, where food preparation, consumption and everything related to food are really very important. They are aimed at strengthening family ties. There life partly revolves around the table, and the kitchen is the most important room in the house. This is different in the UK – here people just want to eat something, usually in a hurry, without unnecessary celebration , although of course there are exceptions and we do not want to say here that the English do not attach importance to family values. Contemporary English cuisine combines traditionalism with modernity. For many years, the same dishes have been prepared, partly modified or enriched by the influence of other cultures and nationalities. It surprises gourmets with certain modernizations, but applied with respect to its history and old recipes. The population coming here from Asia and the Far East had a great impact on the change of culinary traditions.
What does England taste like?
It seems that English cuisine can’t do without meat prepared in various forms. The use of a significant amount of spices is not necessary because their taste is complemented by specially prepared sauces, such as the famous mint or parsley sauce. What like what, but nature has generously given these lush green lands its gifts, such as fish, seafood, wild animals , as well as wild herbs and fruits . Traditional English cuisine was based mainly on a large amount of meat, but nowadays it is enriched with vegetarian dishes. Culinary art of this country is famous for its quite heavy and filling dishes. Combining sweet and dry products is also popular. An example of this are not only various fruit sauces served for dinner dishes, but also beef in batter or English muffins – fried rolls, served with both jam, cheese and egg , spinach and ham.
English cuisine: regional flavors
We do not want to focus here on cosmopolitan dishes served in London (although there is no lack of traditional flavors in those places), so we wander inland. Our stop is county Lancshire , in the west of the country, which is a real treasury of truly English flavors. It is famous for its world-famous hard Lancshire cheese , whose properties are great for baked dishes. Rustic dishes are strongly associated with historical conditions. This region was inhabited by working-class families who, together with their children, worked hard all day. For both economic and purely practical reasons, dishes that, after putting in the oven in the morning – were ready when the family returned home after a hard day. One of them is the famous Lancshire cauldron . This dish is prepared in one pot from meat, onions and potatoes. In the past, the most available and cheapest meat product was sheep’s neck. Currently, lamb is used, which is prepared with root vegetables, such as turnips and carrots. The famous black pudding is served for breakfast almost all over Great Britain – in Lancshire it is known as a regional product with its own local recipe. Black pudding is a sausage stuffed with meat with fat and blood, and then cooked and baked. For other nations this may not be a delicacy, but in England it is considered a real delicacy.
On the coast, in East of England , fish and seafood dishes are popular. The region’s calling card is delicious crabs , which are prepared in a variety of ways. Probably everyone has heard about salad or crab chops. Locally grown vegetables are often added to local specialties. Among the well-known vegetable preserves worth mentioning piccallili – prepared from cauliflower, cucumber and shallots. Everything is marinated in a vinegar marinade with the addition of various spices.
Historical outline also has traditional pie and mash . In the Victorian era, many workers found employment in the emerging industry to the British capital. They needed simple dishes to make, and at the same time tasty and nutritious. That’s what pie and mash is like. It consists of mashed potatoes and a baked beef pie. The whole is poured with a thick parsley sauce. Sometimes there is a version in which beef is replaced with eel.
Although the main dishes may not have made a stunning career in the culinary world, the sweets have a recognized reputation in it. One of the most popular cakes that can be encountered when visiting the UK is trifle . The basis of this delicacy are biscuits dipped in red wine, flooded with fruit jelly. The whole is decorated with a significant amount of whipped cream and custard sauce . This special type of coating is made from milk, yolks and gelatin.
Phew – it was delicious from the very reading. If, however, someone thought that English cuisine is still boring and asexual, watch this short film – change your mind right away! BON APPETIT!
& Nbsp;
Leave a Reply