What is the National Dish of England?

England can be associated with many things including their British accents, football (soccer) matches, black taxi cabs, and the royal family. But how about a national dish? There is much dispute about which of the many English dishes is truly the national dish. England’s cultural diversity does not allow for a specific dish to be considered the national dish. A few foods are often called the national dish of England, including beef, pudding, roast, and banger and mash. Chicken tikka masala is also considered one of the national dishes of England. Here are some of the dishes that can be considered as England’s national dishes.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken tikka masala is not only a popular dish in England but the whole of the United Kingdom. This dish comprises of chunks of roasted marinated chicken known as chicken tikka. The chicken is marinated in a yogurt then baked in a tandoor oven and served in a masala sauce. Chicken tikka is an Indian dish and sauce is only added to it to satisfy the desires of the British. There is no standard recipe for the chicken tikka masala as there are about 48 known recipes. This dish may have originated from the South Asian Community in Britain. Chicken tikka masala is served in almost all restaurants across England.

Roast Beef

Roast beef prepared by roasting beef in an oven is a popular dish with cultural significance in England. The history of this dish in England dates back to 1731 ballad “The Roast Beef of Old England.” Roast beef is prepared as the main meal and the leftover from the dish is used in making sandwiches and hash. Roast beef sandwiches comprise of lettuce, cold roast beef, tomatoes, bread, and mustard. Roast beef is a common Sunday dinner dish not only in England but also former British colonies such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Yorkshire Pudding

Yorkshire pudding is a common side dish in England. The pudding is made of butter consisting of several ingredients such as flour, milk or water, and eggs. This dish can be served in several ways depending on the ingredient used, its size, and the type of accompaniment. For the first course, Yorkshire pudding can be served with onion gravy and as the main course, it can be served with beef. Traditionally, it is part of the Sunday roast. Yorkshire pudding is so popular in British that that first Sunday of February is set aside as the National Yorkshire Pudding Day. Christmas pudding made of dried fruits that are held together by suet and eggs is also a popular dish served mainly on Christmas dinner.

Banger and Mash

Sausages and mash, popularly known as banger and mash, comprises of sausages that are served with mashed potatoes. The dish may consist of a particular variety of flavored sausages made from beef, pork, or lamb. Banger and mash can also be served with fried onion, onion gravy, or peas. This dish can be prepared quickly and in large quantities. Banger and mash are served in most pubs and restaurants across England and was listed as the most popular comfort food in Britain in 2009.