21 Must-Try British Foods That Americans Are Missing

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British cuisine often gets a bad rap for being flavorless and boring, but there’s much more to it than meets the eye.

Picture yourself savoring a hearty Cornish pasty, its flaky crust encasing a savory blend of meat and vegetables, or indulging in a decadent Eton Mess, a delightful mix of meringue, strawberries, and cream. Are you curious to explore more deliciousness?

Here are the British foods that will have you salivating for more when visiting the Land of Tea and Crumpets.

Cornish Pasty

Traditional Cornish Pasty Puff Pastry calzone hot pocket hand pies FreshFocus Shutterstock
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Originally made for miners in the 17th century, the pasty contains beef, potatoes, swede, and onion, all encased in a D-shaped flaky pastry shell. It’s a filling meal that was designed to be easily held and eaten without cutlery.

Fish and Chips

Deep fried cod fish and chips with a lemon slice and sauce tartare fivetonine Shutterstock
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This dish consists of battered and fried fish, traditionally cod or haddock, accompanied by thick-cut fried potatoes. Fish and Chips became a popular take-away meal during the 19th century in London and the Southeast.

Scotch Eggs

Scotch eggs boiled egg with sausage and breadcrumbs fried street food barmalini Shutterstock
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A boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried, this treat was created by the London department store Fortnum & Mason in 1738. It’s a favorite for outings and can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

Bangers-and-Mash

Bangers and Mash Sausages with mashed potatoes and onion gravy Jack7 7 Shutterstock
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This dish pairs well-seasoned pork or beef sausages with creamy mashed potatoes and onion gravy. It originated during World War I when meat shortages led to sausages being made with more fillers, hence the name “bangers” due to their tendency to burst while cooking.

Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington steak mushrooms puff pastry Goskova Tatiana Shutterstock
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Featuring a filet steak coated with pâté and duxelles (a finely chopped mushroom mixture), it’s then wrapped in puff pastry and baked. This dish is rumored to have been named after the Duke of Wellington in 1815 after his victory at the Battle of Waterloo.

Sticky Toffee

Sticky Toffee Pudding sponge cake dates nelea33 Shutterstock
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Delight your sweet tooth with Sticky Toffee Pudding, a moist sponge cake made with finely chopped dates. Covered in a luscious toffee sauce, this dessert is often served warm with vanilla ice cream or custard.

Welsh Rarebit

Welsh Rarebit Melted cheese sauce served over toasted bread Jack7 7 Shutterstock
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This dish involves a savory sauce made from melted cheese, typically Cheddar, poured over slices of toasted bread. Often enhanced with a mix of mustard, ale, and Worcestershire sauce, it provides a flavorful alternative to a simple grilled cheese.

Lancashire Hotpot

Homemade Lancashire hotpot stew lamb onion carrot Worcestershire sauce potatoes bread OlgaBombologna Shutterstock
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A stew originating from the northwest of England, it consists of lamb or mutton and root vegetables, topped with sliced potatoes. Traditionally slow-cooked in a heavy pot, this dish was a staple for cotton mill workers in the 19th century.

Eton Mess

Eton mess dessert with meringue whipped cream and fresh berries trifle parfait strawberry Liliya Kandrashevich Shutterstock
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A traditional English dessert, Eton Mess combines strawberries, broken meringue, and whipped cream. This dessert dates back to the 19th century, where it was first served at Eton College’s annual cricket games.

Pork Pie

Melton Mowbray Pork Pie meat pie Jack7 7 Shutterstock
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Known for its distinctive bow-shaped crust and finely chopped pork filling, this pie is often enjoyed with a dollop of English mustard. Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire is famed for producing the best pork pies, traditionally eaten cold.

English Breakfast

Traditional full English breakfast with fried eggs sausages baked beans mushrooms grilled tomatoes toast butter coffee and bacon Tatiana Bralnina Shutterstock
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Start your day like a Brit with a hearty Full English Breakfast. This iconic meal typically features eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, and toast. Originating from England, it’s a protein-packed staple that offers a powerful energy boost.

Bakewell Tart

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This treat features short crust pastry, a layer of fruity jam, and a frangipane filling, topped with flaked almonds. Originating from the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire, it’s a well-loved confection in British tea rooms.

Black Pudding

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Challenge your palate with Black Pudding. A type of blood sausage, it contains pork blood, oatmeal, and fat, and is usually served at breakfast. Considered a delicacy in the North of England, it has been an integral part of British cuisine since the Middle Ages.

Pease Pudding

Pease Pudding split peas ham Jack7 7 Shutterstock
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Made from yellow split peas that are boiled and then mashed, it is commonly served with ham or bacon. Hailing from the Northeast of England, it’s typically eaten warm and is known for its soft, creamy texture.

Toad-in-the-Hole

Toad in the hole sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter nelea33 Shutterstock
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Experience the playful side of British cuisine with Toad in the Hole. This dish combines sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter, typically served with onion gravy and vegetables. It’s unusual name is said to refer to the way sausages peek out through the batter.

Spotted Dick

Spotted Dick suet pudding with dried fruits custard Jack7 7 Shutterstock
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Giggle at the name but stay for the taste. This traditional British pudding is made with suet and dried fruit, usually currants or raisins, and often served with custard. The “spotted” part of the name refers to the dried fruit, which resembles spots.

Trifle

Trifle Layered dessert sponge cake fruit custard and cream Jack7 7 Shutterstock
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Consisting of sponge cake soaked in sherry or another fortified wine, layered with fruit, custard, and whipped cream, it’s a festive dessert often served during Christmas. Trifle has been a beloved part of British cuisine since the 16th century.

Mince Pies

Traditional British Christmas mince pie Rimma Bondarenko Shutterstock
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Celebrate the holiday spirit with Mince Pies. These small pies are filled with mincemeat – a mixture of dried fruits, distilled spirits, and spices, traditionally consumed during Christmas. The custom of eating mince pies on Christmas dates back to the Victorian era.

Ploughman’s Lunch

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Recreate a rustic British pub experience with a Ploughman’s Lunch. Typically, it includes slices of cold cheese, pickles, bread, and sometimes ham or boiled eggs. The meal dates back to post-World War II, designed as an easy, assemble-at-the-table meal for farm laborers.

Sunday Roast

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Gather around the table for the quintessential Sunday Roast. Consisting of roasted meat, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and gravy, this meal is a weekly tradition in many British homes. The Yorkshire pudding, a fluffy, airy pastry made from batter, is often considered the star of the meal.

Haggis

Haggis and vegetables with mashed turnip potato and fried onions stockcreations Shutterstock
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A savory pudding containing sheep’s pluck (heart, liver, and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, it is encased in the animal’s stomach and cooked. Often served during Burns Night, it is accompanied by ‘neeps and tatties’ (turnips and potatoes).

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