Traditional British fish and chips (Photo: fish and chips and mushy peas on a plate image by MichMac from Fotolia.com )
England has always had a tentative relationship with food, due to an influence from other cuisines, years of rationing and lack of ingredients. British cuisine tends to be heavy with starches. Fried foods dominate the palate, along with fish and vegetables. British food seems to change drastically when it's brought to other countries, so signature British dishes can only truly be tasted in England. Key among famous British dishes are fish and chips and pork pie.
Fish and chips is one of the best-known dishes of England. The variety of fish can range from haddock up north to cod down south, but it is almost always a large slab of crispy, crunchy battered fish. It's usually served with mushy green peas and mashed potatoes, with vinegar to pour on the fish. In other countries, the breaded fish is served with french fries or potato chips.
Black pudding has a reputation as a food to be tasted by the brave. Not only is it not pudding--it is made with pig blood. It is an easily storable and nutritious sausage and is eaten often for breakfast with slices of bread. The traditional recipe calls for combining boiled groats (hulled and crushed cereal grain), pig blood, pig fat, flour, onion and seasonings, with an addition of mint or other herbs for flavor. After it's mixed, the sausage is stuffed into skins or a tin, and then boiled or baked.
Pork pie comes up commonly in movies referring to the British. This pie's only seasonings are pork, flour, water, lard, and salt and pepper to taste, making it a very simple dish. It is baked in a pie shell and served at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Many variations of this pie exist, including the chicken or turkey pot pie.
Cold-smoked herring, called a kipper, contributed a lot to the history of British food, helping men in war survive on small rations. Kippers are eaten plain or on sandwiches, or added to pastas and salads for a salty, fishy kick.
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