What's a uniquely British food item that you think deserves more international recognition?
Posted by VenzelWenzel@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 84 comments
What's a food or dish that's amazing but unheard outside of the UK?
hero_Persimmon2991@reddit
butchies fried chicken
Orangesteel@reddit
Yorkshire pudding
spinynorman1846@reddit
This is underrated outside of the north east, never mind internationally, but pease pudding. Most people in the UK haven't tried it, and a lot that have have had terrible pease pudding but done well it's delicious.
In case you're unfamiliar with it, it's a gravy/spread (it solidifies when cold so you can spread it on sandwiches) made from yellow split peas, boiled until they're completely smooth. What makes it excellent though is that you use water in which you've previously boiled a ham, so the peas take on a delightful salty, hammy flavour. You can then use it as an accompaniment to said ham.
brothervalerie@reddit
I only knew this was a thing from medieval history, I didn't know you guys still ate it up north. I tried making it once but it didn't come out right so I'll have to get it next time I'm up there.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
Even the stuff you buy in a tin is quite nice
ClevelandWomble@reddit
Pease pudding and ham on a stottie was the food of the gods when I was a atudent in Sunderland.
brothervalerie@reddit
Where is the best place to get it? Pub?
-aLonelyImpulse@reddit
I've seen it in butchers' delis. But I'm way up north so I imagine it's regional.
ClevelandWomble@reddit
Even our Teesside Aldi sells it. Pubs and butchers for ready made sarnies.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
I had never heard of this until I was about 26 and a housemate brought this home after a visit to family in the north east.
When I heard the name I genuinely thought it was a dessert made from peas.
borisdidnothingwrong@reddit
I'm in Utah, and my mother decidedly to make Pease Pudding on a whim once after reciting the nursery rhyme to my baby sister.
Her verdict was, "Maybe it's better 'three days old. '"
I kinda liked it, mashed into my dinner roll.
Ok_String_2510@reddit
Toad in the hole.
I don’t if any country has it outside of the UK but I know I’m having that for dinner tonight.
VenzelWenzel@reddit (OP)
Toad in the hole is so underrated! Such simple comfort food. Do you have a particular sausage you like to use, or a go-to recipe?
LPodmore@reddit
I think the yanks call an egg in the middle of a piece of bread toad in the hole, Outrageous scenes.
Immediate_Machine_92@reddit
Squash/cordial. I can't imagine living in a country where I can't add the flavour of fruit to plain water at any strength I choose, per glass, in an instant.
-aLonelyImpulse@reddit
My (Palestinian) husband did not realise you needed to dilute squash when he first moved here. He poured a glass of straight squash and chugged it. Didn't drink it for years because he thought it was disgusting and then one day he saw me making a glass and was like "Wait, you add water to it?" Still bring it up every time he has a glass now.
Immediate_Machine_92@reddit
My grandpa drank blackcurrant squash without adding water. He was a smoker his whole life though so I think by the time he was 80, he probably couldn't taste much unless it was very strong. I'm the opposite, I usually make it much weaker than the instructions suggest, really just to take the edge off of the water.
sterne83@reddit
scones
RetiredFromIT@reddit
Bread pudding. Not bread and butter pudding, but traditional bread pudding, made with stale bread, dark sugar, dried fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg and mace.
Soggy, sticky and crunchy on the top.
casper301261@reddit
lorne sausage the perfect foundation for a fry up sandwich
Maleficent-Win-6520@reddit
Scampi
RecentTwo544@reddit
What we think of as scampi, agreed.
Scampi in most of the world is just "grilled marinated prawns".
CheesyLala@reddit
No it isn't? Scampi is specifically breaded and deep-fried.
ws_luk@reddit
I'm surprised that clotted cream doesn't get more international attention. It's like the best parts of whipped cream and butter put together, and unlike butter it's socially acceptable to slather an artery-clogging amount of it on a scone.
CheesyLala@reddit
Yep - came here to say this.
Cream teas are absolute god-tier food and it's mad that there isn't more made of them.
Obviously we all know it's jam before cream, right? Otherwise GTFO.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
Clotted cream is so hard to find abroad. And it’s so delicious, it’s surprising.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
I love clotted cream and once served it to some non-British friends to try and the feedback surprised me by not being that positive.
They found it too rich, and, sort of the inverse of how you've described it, they didn't like that it felt like neither butter nor cream but somewhere in between.
Makes me wonder if it's one of those things that's quite unusual but we don't really register that because we were brought up with it.
Suspicious_Trade2185@reddit
Pork pie
jimicus@reddit
The humble pork pie is a delicacy.
I will not be taking questions on this matter.
professoryaffle72@reddit
The Sunday roast. I love it. My Danish wife doesn't.
CandyPink69@reddit
Turkey dinosaurs, McCain oven chips and beans
professoryaffle72@reddit
Get out and close the door behind you.
Ok_Aioli3897@reddit
Cottage pie or traditional Cumberland sausage.
Dramatic_Guidance_21@reddit
Pickled onion sandwiches - a nice crusty bread with salted butter. OMG
JohannthanSmyth@reddit
Fried bread
Ralucahippie@reddit
Mince pies
ctesibius@reddit
Wensleydale.
AdjectiveNoun111@reddit
Cheesy Crumpets
ResplendentBear@reddit
Spotted dick is a really nice dessert if you can get past the name.
klc81@reddit
Spotted Dick is pretty much the last sruvivor of a whole "genre" of similar puddings with unappetizing names.
Personally I prefer a Drowned Baby.
newnortherner21@reddit
Wensleydale cheese.
Boring_Bastard_72@reddit
Black pudding mixed in with bacon, baked beans and fried bread is great.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Don't think I've seen it mentioned yet: shortbread.
I've given this to several people from abroad over the years, and unanimously they've loved it.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
It’s pretty easily obtained abroad.
I live in east Asia and it’s in most shops in its normal tartan packaging.
Not sure why you think it’s uncommon. It’s one of our most recognisable exports tbh.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Loads of things in this thread are fairly easily obtainable abroad. That wasn't the question. The question was what deserves more recognition. I think shortbread does, based on the responses I've got when giving it to non-Brits.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
But it has plenty of recognition. My East Asian peers know what it is.
I introduced them to vinegar on chips (fries) and they thought it was weird AF and wouldn’t consider it a valid condiment.
Shortbread is well known.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
And I've known people who don't know what it is. This is a dead end of a conversation topic.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
Yes. You just dead-ended it because you can’t engage properly. 晚安
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
There's literally nothing to engage with. You've said nothing of interest or substance. Good night to you too.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
Once you’ve stepped foot past Calais, maybe you can contribute something to the discussion. As it’s 2:36 am here, I’m going to sleep.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
You seem an unpleasant person. But perhaps you're just cranky because it's late. Time for bed for you.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
Just not sure why you’re living in denial.
https://i.imgur.com/dHUmKz7.jpeg
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
You seem to think I believe shortbread isn't available abroad. Something I've never said.
Clearly your brain isn't functioning well because it's late for you. Go to sleep.
brothervalerie@reddit
I think British food in general is really under appreciated but particularly our many savoury pies. I could be wrong but I think steak and ale/kidney and ale pie is a uniquely British dish and if you try it you will wonder how you ever got through winter without it. Our food isn't necessarily fancy and refined like French or Italian but it's hearty and warms the soul.
O_C_Demon@reddit
Yorkshire pudding
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
I managed to get it in some former UK colonies (Singapore and Malaysia) after 5 years abroad. It was, to understate it, heavenly.
pimpledsimpleton@reddit
bovril on crumpets
opinions-please-3164@reddit
Bovril on anything you can toast…apart from a marshmallow
knight-under-stars@reddit
I don't think it is amazing by any means, disgusting in fact...but I could see the Munchie Box becoming a worldwide hit.
quicksilverjack@reddit
The greatest munchie box ever video
Outrageous_Sand6076@reddit
Tattie scones.
DollyDaydreamer88@reddit
Stuffing
Pockysocks@reddit
I feel British curry should be more recognised in the same way that Kare is recognised as Japanese curry, distinct from Indian curry.
QuirkyPension4654@reddit
Pie and mash, with liquor.
Bazsticks@reddit
Crumpets
SirHyrumMcdaniels@reddit
Scotch egg.
citron_bjorn@reddit
Parkin
O_C_Demon@reddit
Proper Yorkshire parkin is the absolute best
Cute_Ad_9730@reddit
Pasties.
FredH3663@reddit
Sausage rolls
GuybrushFunkwood@reddit
Bread and butter pudding
flashbastrd@reddit
Faggots
WoodpeckerDry4430@reddit
Jam and cream sponge cake
ukbeasts@reddit
Also Eton Mess
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Lardy cake, tablet and dare I say it haggis. The last is really versatile as fried for breakfast, served as a main dish, as a starter meatball wannabee with whisky sauce
Jumpy_Seaweed5443@reddit
Anglo Indian but Kedgeree, Piccalilli, Pickles and Chutneys too
spinynorman1846@reddit
I love kedgeree so much, it's the best breakfast food
Duanedoberman@reddit
Faggots obviously!
bishibashi@reddit
Stonner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonner_kebab
SomeHSomeE@reddit
That can't be right. Sausage wrapped in doner meat and then deep fried must be more than that unless the portions are tiny.
ResplendentBear@reddit
If it weighs 1.4kg then there's absolutely no way that's less than 4,000 calories.
knight-under-stars@reddit
Something definitely does not add up.
cunth_magruber@reddit
Salt and pepper chips
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