Hundreds of classic English, Scottish and Welsh recipes, all tested and photographed with step-by-step instructions, with full details of all ingredients. British cuisine is the specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with the British Isles. Historically, British cuisine has meant "unfussy dishes made with quality local ingredients, matched with simple sauces to accentuate flavour, rather than disguise it". However, British cuisine has absorbed the cultural influences of the colonial era and post-war immigration, producing hybrid dishes, such as the Anglo-Indian chicken tikka masala, often claimed as "Britain's true national dish". Occasionally vilified as "unimaginative and heavy", British cuisine has been judged by the full breakfast, fish and chips and the Sunday roast.

Typical British dishes have for several centuries been based around a nutritious template - commonly known as "meat and two veg" - which normally consists of simply roasted, grilled or boiled meat (most commonly beef, pork or lamb) a green vegetable (steamed or boiled) and a root vegetable (usually a form of boiled potatoes, carrots or turnip).

British cuisine can be separated into national and regional variants, e.g. English, Scottish and Welsh cuisine or Yorkshire cuisine and Cornish cuisine, each of which have developed their own regional or local dishes, many of which are geographically indicated foods such as Cheshire cheese, the Yorkshire pudding, Arbroath Smokie and the Cornish Pasty.

Try to source local ingredients for a truly authentic dish. Markets are a wonderful source. It you are local to London, give Borough Market a try, you will not be disappointed.

Where to buy?

We have an ever-growing list of specialist ingredient suppliers here.

British cheeses

Take a look at our very comprehensive list of British cheeses, broken down by county.

PDO ingredients

PDO stands for 'Protected Designation of Origin'. Under the EU agricultural product quality policy, this "covers agricultural products and foodstuffs which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how". The following British ingredients are those which are registered as PDO.

PGI ingredients

PGI stands for 'Protected Geographical Indication'. Under the EU agricultural product quality policy, this "covers agricultural products and foodstuffs closely linked to the geographical area. At least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the area." The following British ingredients are those which are registered as PGI.

TSG ingredients

TSG stands for ‘Traditional Speciality Guaranteed’. It "highlights traditional character, either in the composition or means of production". The following British ingredients are those which are registered as TSG.

English PDO and PGI Wines

Protected designation of origin wines approved in 2011 UKVA website

• Click to preview 3 randomly chosen illustrated recipes from within the British recipes category

BRITISH RECIPES