Top 10 Traditional British Christmas Foods

We’ve just had our Christmas Lunch Buffet where students bought in traditional foods that they would eat at Christmas. This was a great way to celebrate and taste different cultures and traditions from around the world; but what do the Brits traditionally eat at Christmas?  Here are our top 10 traditional British Christmas foods:

​1. Turkey
Traditionally in Britain, people eat a roast dinner on the afternoon of 25th December. The centrepiece for this meal is the roast turkey. The turkey is usually roasted in the oven for a couple of hours before it’s ready to carve and serve. Vegetarians often enjoy nut roast in place of a roast turkey.

2. Stuffing
Traditionally in Britain, herb stuffing is eaten with the turkey at Christmas. This is made up of large amounts of herbs such as rosemary or thyme. The stuffing is served inside the turkey or as a side dish. 

3. Roast Potatoes
Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside! These are made by cutting potatoes into chunks and roasting them in the oven with a bit of olive oil drizzled on top, along with herbs such as thyme and rosemary, and salt and pepper. 

4. Pigs in Blankets
Many Brits argue that Christmas dinner is not complete without pigs in blankets! These are small sausages that are wrapped in bacon. Vegetarian versions can be made too using meat free alternatives. 

5. Yorkshire Pudding
Yorkshire puddings originate from the North England, hence their name. They are made of a thick batter that includes eggs, milk, and flour. They are called ‘pudding’ as they were originally eaten as a dessert! 

6. Parsnips
Parsnips are a root vegetable traditionally eaten at Christmas as the winter frost makes them taste slightly sweeter. For Christmas dinner, parsnips are usually baked with garnishes or flavourings such as honey mustard. 

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​7. Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are small, round leafy vegetables that look like mini cabbages! Supposedly they originated from Brussels which is where they get their name from.  Brussel sprouts are often said to be ‘like marmite’ in the way that you ‘either love them or hate them’. 

​8. Gravy
Gravy is a sauce made from turkey drippings when it is cooked and thickened with corn starch or wheat flour. Gravy is used in Britain as a sauce for roast dinners throughout the year, often served in a jug. In the north of England, people often have gravy with chips from fish and chip shops! 

​9. Christmas Pudding
Traditional Christmas pudding is made from ingredients that would have been expensive and luxurious to get such as dried fruits, cinnamon and nutmeg. The pudding is sometimes soaked in alcoholic spirit and set a light! Originally, Christmas pudding was also made with beef and mutton! Putting a coin in the pudding is another traditional custom. It brings luck to the person who finds it. 

​10. Mince Pies
Mince pies are tiny pies that are filled with fruits such as raisins, cranberries, and sultanas, as well as chopped nuts and spices such as cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg. Mince Pies were originally filled with meat rather than the dried fruits and spices mix as they are today. They were also first made in an oval shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby. Sometimes they even had a pastry baby Jesus on the top! 

Why not try some of these Traditional British Christmas foods this year?