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Scotch eggs are one of Britain's most popular snacks, consisting of hard-boiled eggs that are encased in sausage meat and coated in breadcrumbs. However, if desired, the eggs can be slightly runny. The combination of these ingredients is then deep-fried in hot oil until golden and crispy.
Although they can be consumed either hot or cold, the eggs are traditionally consumed chilled, preferably with pickles and a fresh salad on the side. It is believed that the snack was invented in the 19th century, when people used to dip the eggs in boiling water combined with lime-powder disinfectant, in order to preserve them.
VARIATIONS OF Scotch eggs
MOST ICONIC Scotch eggs
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Pease pudding is an English dish consisting of boiled peas with onion and carrots, which are seasoned with salt and other spices, and then cooked together with bacon or ham for extra flavor. The final result is a thick porridge with mild, yet rich flavors.
Originally, pease pudding was cooked in large cauldrons which were hanging over an open fire. Today, it is even available in cans throughout the United Kingdom.
MOST ICONIC Pease pudding
Eggy bread is the British version of French toast. Also known as Poor Knights of Windsor, the dish is usually prepared with a combination of crustless sandwich bread, milk, icing sugar, eggs, butter, cinnamon, and often a bit of sherry and strawberry jam.
The bread slices are soaked in a whisked mixture of icing sugar, milk, sherry, and eggs. The bread is then pan-fried in butter until browned on both sides. Once cooked, the bread is sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, then topped with strawberry jam or blackberry compote, if desired.
MOST ICONIC Eggy bread
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Pan haggerty is a traditional dish originating from Northumberland, but it’s enjoyed throughout the United Kingdom in numerous variations. The dish is usually prepared with a combination of sliced potatoes, onions, butter, salt, pepper, and shredded cheddar cheese.
The potato and onion slices are layered in a baking dish, dotted with butter, and seasoned with salt and pepper. The dish is covered and baked until the potatoes and onions become tender. It is then uncovered, sprinkled with the cheese, and baked again until the cheese becomes lightly browned.
MOST ICONIC Pan haggerty
Most Brits would agree that there is nothing more British than fish and chips. This comforting, widely loved national dish consists of a freshly fried, hot, white fish fillet and large, sliced and fried potatoes. Cod, haddock, and flounder are the most common types of fish that is fried for the dish, and the customers can choose which type of fish they want, with cod being the most popular choice.
The fillets get dipped in a batter made from eggs, milk, and flour, and are then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings along with the potatoes. The origins of this dish go back to the 17th century, when potatoes were fried as a substitute for fish in the winter months, while fried fish was introduced into the country by Jewish refugees.
MOST ICONIC Fish and chips
Also known as the full breakfast, this traditional British dish appears everywhere with a few essentials and some regional additions. First, there is the meat – usually a combination of sausages and bacon. The sausage is plain pork sausage, while the bacon can be streaky or back bacon.
Then there are vegetables and legumes – baked beans and tomatoes, both cooked over high heat. The balance of sweetness and acidity in the tomatoes nicely balances out the fattiness on the other side of the plate. Lastly, there is a crispy piece of fried bread and two or three over-easy eggs to tie the whole meal together.
MOST ICONIC English breakfast
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Cauliflower cheese is a traditional dish consisting of boiled cauliflower florets doused in a sauce made from flour, milk, butter, nutmeg, and mature cheeses such as cheddar. The whole concoction is then baked in the oven and can be served either as a vegetarian main meal or as a flavorful side dish, accompanying roast meat and potatoes.
It is believed that cauliflower cheese was first prepared in the 17th century, when the vegetable was first introduced to the United Kingdom. Today, the dish is also popular as a pre-made baby food.
MOST ICONIC Cauliflower cheese
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Peach Melba is an elegant dessert consisting of vanilla ice cream that's topped with poached peaches and raspberry coulis. The dessert was created by Auguste Escoffier at the Savoy in London in 1892 for Dame Nellie Melba and her Covent Garden performance in Wagner's opera Lohengrin.
Originally, the dessert was presented on the back of an iced swan, and it was garnished with spun sugar, but Escoffier omitted the swan in later versions. Nowadays, peach Melba is prepared in other versions that replace peaches with apricots, strawberries, or pears, but as the creator said himself – ''Any variation on this recipe ruins the delicate balance of its taste'', so it's best to stick to the original recipe.