Bangers and MashBritish cuisine is the specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with the United Kingdom. British cuisine has been described as ‘unfussy dishes made with quality local ingredients, matched with simple sauces to accentuate flavour, rather than disguise it.’ However, British cuisine has absorbed the cultural influence of those that have settled in Britain, producing hybrid dishes, such as the Anglo-Indian chicken tikka masala.

Celtic agriculture and animal breeding produced a wide variety of foodstuffs for indigenous Celts and Britons. Anglo-Saxon England developed meat and savoury herb stewing techniques before the practice became common in Europe. The Norman conquest introduced exotic spices into England in the Middle Ages. The British Empire facilitated a knowledge of India’s elaborate food tradition of ‘strong, penetrating spices and herbs’. Food rationing policies, put in place by the British government during wartime periods ofthe 20th century, are said to have been the stimulus for British cuisine’s poor international reputation.

British cuisine has traditionally been limited in its international recognition to the full breakfast, fish and chips, and the Christmas dinner. Other famous British dishes include the Sunday roast, steak and kidney pie, shepherd’s pie, and bangers and mash. British cuisine has many regional varieties within the broader categories of English, Scottish and Welsh cuisine. Each have developed their own regional or local dishes, many of which are geographically indicated foods such as Cornish pasties, the Yorkshire pudding, Cumberland Sausage, Arbroath Smokie, and Welsh cakes.

Anglo-Indian cuisine

Some Anglo-Indian dishes derive from traditional British cuisine, such as roast beef, modified by the addition of Indian-style spices,such as cloves and red chillies. Fish and meat are often cooked in curry form with Indian vegetables. Anglo-Indian food often involves use of coconut, yogurt, and almonds. Roasts and curries, rice dishes, and breads all have a distinctive flavour.

English cuisine

English cuisine is shaped by the climate of England, its island geography and its history. The latter includes interactions with other European countries, and the importing of ingredients and ideas from places such as North America, China and southern Asia during the time of the British Empire

Northern Irish cuisine

The cuisine of Northern Ireland is largely similar to that of the rest of the island of Ireland. In this region, the Ulster Fry is particularly popular.

Scottish cuisineHaggis

Scottish cuisine is the specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with Scotland. It shares much with English cuisine, but has distinctive attributes and recipes of its own. Traditional Scottish dishes such as haggis and shortbread exist alongside international foodstuffs brought about by migration. Scotland is known for the high quality of its beef, lamb, potatoes, oats, and sea foods.

Welsh cuisine

Welsh cuisine has influenced, and been influenced by, other British cuisine. Although both beef and dairy cattle are raised widely, especially in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, Wales is best known for its sheep, and thus lamb is the meat traditionally associated with Welsh cooking.

Popular dishes form the UK:

Bangers and mash: Also known as sausages and mash, it is a traditional British dish consisting of sausages and mashed potato. It may consist of one of a variety of flavoured sausages made of pork, lamb or beef. The dish is usually served with onion gravy, but may also include fried onions and peas.

English breakfast: Sometimes called a fry up, a full English breakfast contains sausages, bacon (turkey or ham), eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans and bread. It is popular throughout the world and in the UK is served as an all-day breakfast with a beverage such as coffee or tea.

frying scotsman radissonFish and chips: A classic British dish consisting of fried battered fish, served with chips – what the British call french fries – and tartar sauce.

Pies: From minced meat to steak, savoury pies are a British tradition that’s been around for centuries. There are even some feature a cheesy mashed potato crust or just vegetarian. They are popular pub grub and comfort food.

Roast beef: The national dish of England. A dish of boneless beef that is roasted, generally served as the main dish or meal. It is slow-cooked with oil, rosemary, garlic, basil, salt, thyme and pepper at a high temperature to caramelise the outside, then the temperature is turned down. It is one of the meats often served at Sunday lunch or dinner. Sliced roast beef is also sold as a cold cut, and used as a sandwich filling.

Scones: A traditional Scottish baked good, usually made of either wheat or oatmeal with baking powder as a leavening agent, and baked on sheet pans. The soft, fluffy scone is often slightly sweetened and occasionally glazed with egg wash. It could be plain or baked with sour cherries, raisins, sultanas, chopped sour apricots, blueberries, or a mixture. It is served with tea with jam, clotted cream and/or butter.

Yorkshire pudding: A baked puffy pudding made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk or water. It is a common British side dish especially roast beef, served with onion gravy.


Marhaba Picks: Independent and hotel restaurants offering cuisines from the UK in Qatar:

  • Captain Billy’s Fish & Chips, City Centre-Doha | 4493 4867 [V/NV]
  • Harrods Tea Room, Barahat Msheireb, Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) and Hamad International Airport (HIA) | 4010 1720 [V/NV]
  • Irish Harp, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel | 4485 3000, irishharpdoha.com [V/NV]
  • M&S Cafe, Doha Festival City | 4035 4444
  • Mulbery Tavern, Hilton Doha The Pearl Hotel & Residences, Abraj Quartier Pearl Boulevard Tower AQ-07 | 4492 4630, mulberrytaverndoha.com [V/NV]
  • Shakespeare & Co., Dar Al Salam Mall, and Porto Arabia, The Pearl Island | 6676 8812 [V/NV]
  • Shamrock Tavern, Magnum Hotel & Suites West Bay | 3366 1162 [V/NV]
  • SOHO Coffee Co, Landmark Mall, and Place Vendome, Lusail City | 4493 8693 (Landmark Mall), Place Vendome (4142 9525)
  • The Chippy, C-Ring Road | 5022 0126 [V/NV]
  • The Frying Scotsman, Raddisson Blu Hotel, Doha | 4428 1555 [V/NV]
  • The Old Manor, M Grand Hotel Doha | 4446 2222
  • The Red Lion Doha Pub and Restaurant, Al Mansour Suites Hotel | 3337 7602 [V/NV]

Source: Wikipedia

Author: Sarah Mascarenhas

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