What do they eat in England for breakfast. English breakfast and its differences from the traditional continental. Favorite children's English food

Speaking about the English breakfast, it is worth mentioning that, depending on personal preferences, national and regional traditions, and an important factor called “the way the stars were formed”, the first meal of the average inhabitant of Foggy Albion can be completely different. For some, a cup of coffee and a couple of crackers is enough in the morning, there are gourmets who are accustomed to cappuccino and croissants, others unpretentiously manage with instant oatmeal, scrambled eggs and aromatic tea, some need a full meal. A true English breakfast is more of a meal for the last group of people.

However, this is probably not the place to start. Let's remember that the UK is a completely island nation. This geographical feature is directly related to the country's climate - fickle, changeable and mostly cold, and it is this factor that determines the fact that the British diet usually includes hearty, high-calorie and solid foods that warm the body and supply it with energy. In this one should look for the roots of the traditional English breakfast - plentiful and very satisfying.

Maybe in order to compensate for the variability of the weather, the British are looking for stability in their own traditions and habits. British cuisine is no exception - it is just as subject to the desire of the British to adhere to the established order. Formed many centuries ago, the concept of an English breakfast remains constant and unchanged.

So, the famous British "brand" invariably includes a set of certain dishes that are served at the table at the same time, amazing the size of the portion. The tradition of preparing such food for the first meal arose and gained particular popularity during Victorian England, in the 19th century. The aristocracy began the day with a hearty breakfast, which included a wide variety of dishes, took far from five minutes of time and was accompanied by a slow drink of tea or coffee. Gradually, the morning meal turned into a ritual that the nobility lazily indulged in before starting a long lazy day.

Pheasant legs, figs, various marmalades, black pudding, baked halibut and many other delicacies - that's what the rich English breakfast consisted of in the 19th century. The tradition became so popular that even laborers and farmers could not stay away. Of course, the composition of their English breakfast was qualitatively different, but the quantitative idea was preserved - and ordinary people, before starting their day, which was difficult and filled with physical work, also acquired the habit of opening the morning with a hearty meal.

Over time and decades, the English breakfast has become a kind of hallmark of the UK - and now most hotels, restaurants and cafes offer their guests a luxurious treat, which, as a rule, remains in the memory of foreigners for a long time. Maybe to compensate for the unpredictability of the weather, the British strictly observe their traditions, they are unbreakable and stable, and breakfast is one of the culinary pillars that does not change and is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

However, in fairness, it should be noted that if in the past such a meal was typical in so many families, at present not so many Englishmen adhere to the described tradition in full. It is said that today no more than 1% of the population eat breakfast in this way within the walls of their home, however, as soon as it comes to food outside the territory of their own kitchen, the figure increases significantly. The habit of eating in restaurants and cafes is quite common among the British, and already here people often prefer a traditional breakfast, which includes a certain set of dishes.

Contrary to common misconception, oatmeal, although a fairly popular product among the inhabitants of the UK, does not necessarily appear on the table in the morning.

Well, putting the last accents, we can mention that, again, contrary to the general misconception, oatmeal, although it is a fairly popular product among the inhabitants of the UK, does not necessarily appear on the table in the morning. An English breakfast includes many different dishes, but it does not offer exactly this porridge.

What does an English breakfast consist of:

- bacon;
- pork sausages in a natural casing;
- fresh tomatoes;
- eggs;
- fish fillet;
- white beans stewed in tomato sauce;
- toast or small wheat buns;
- Tea, coffee, orange juice.

If you open an article about an English breakfast in any of the many glossy publications, you will most likely find instructions that require the use of a dozen different pans and hundreds of different bowls. Do not open glossy magazines, use logic. And one single frying pan.

Step 1 - Bacon

So, for starters, we take a large and reliable frying pan, put it on the fire, warm it up well. In the meantime, take the bacon out of the fridge and cut into thin pieces. If you bought pre-cut bacon, you should cut the long strips into several pieces - of course, there will be less aesthetics in this, but eating, for sure, will become more convenient.
Put the bacon in a preheated skillet and fry over medium heat until crispy. Remove from pan and wrap in disposable paper towels. After the excess fat is absorbed, we transfer it to a large beautiful plate in which breakfast is planned to be served.

Step 2 - sausages

In the fat that the bacon gave out, fry pork sausages in a natural casing. They should be golden brown, crispy and hot. We remove from the pan. Place carefully next to the bacon.
To prevent possible bursting of the casing of sausages, you can make several cuts before frying.

Step 3 - Tomatoes

Washed and dried tomatoes cut in half. We spread it cut down on the same pan and the same fat. Thoroughly fry until a rich dark color, turn over to the other side and keep in the pan for another minute. When ready, transfer to a plate.

Sometimes a few lightly fried champignons are added to the company with tomatoes. This is not a mandatory component, however, often found in many restaurants. If you're a mushroom lover, add a couple to your English breakfast - they won't hurt.

Step 4 - eggs

Eggs for breakfast in the UK are most often served in the form of scrambled eggs, the so-called "scrambled eggs". To do this, we take out a couple of eggs from the refrigerator (taking into account the fact that a rustic product with bright orange yolks will look more elegant and festive on the table than its factory counterpart). Break the eggs into a bowl, salt and mix with a fork or whisk until smooth. You do not need to beat, you just need to achieve a uniform mixing of the yolk with the protein.

Pour the resulting mixture into a frying pan (still the same, the first one, which is still on the stove). Fire - medium, in your hands you have a whisk, spatula or fork. Fry the eggs, stirring constantly. Approximately in the middle of the process, it is worth adding a small piece of butter - so the taste of the chatter will be richer.
On a plate with previously fried bacon, sausages and tomatoes, lay out an airy gentle scrambler that melts on the tongue and leaves a light creamy aftertaste.

Step 5 - Fish

When planning to cook an English breakfast, you should be puzzled by finding the right fish. For the British, this is usually flounder, dory or saltfish. In general, any fillet with a discreet, neutral flavor will do. Wash the fish, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Without flour and breading, put on a frying pan. You may not have enough fat left after frying the bacon by this point - add a little vegetable oil. In addition, you can put a small piece of butter in the pan - both the smell and the taste of the fish will be fantastic.

The fillet must be fried on both sides over low heat for several minutes. It should not become fried or ruddy, try to leave it light, white, slightly poached. Do not overdry, but warm well. We put a soft fish piece, enveloping and affectionate, on a separate plate. Sprinkle with additional freshly ground black pepper. Nearby we attach a fresh lemon cut into several slices.

Step 6 - Beans

Traditional white beans in tomato sauce are rarely cooked by the British at home on their own. Most often, ready-made canned food is bought in the nearest supermarket. However, if you are a fan of cooking all your food at home, the beans should be boiled until soft the day before, and then season with tomato sauce, add your favorite spices and stew a little. In the morning, all that remains is to reheat the beans and serve to the table along with the rest of the ingredients. Bright, rich and slightly brutal, it, oddly enough, fits quite organically into the friendly team of the English breakfast.

Step 7 - Bread

English breakfast involves the participation of dried ruddy toast or fresh buns, cut in half and slightly warmed up in a dry frying pan. The bread is served with salted butter and orange marmalade (which is basically jam made with citruses, sugar, and a dash of whiskey).

Step 8 - tea, coffee

Well, and drinks. Do not believe the common misconception that the British drink only tea with milk almost around the clock. Depending on taste preferences, the accompaniment can be coffee, and orange juice, beloved by many, and even cocoa. At the same time, of course, it is worth recognizing that a large number of British people fill cups with hot milk for breakfast, and then add strong freshly brewed black tea there.

Have a nice breakfast, delicious scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, hearty beans and tender sausages!

Therefore, having arrived in the country, try to feel the charm of an English breakfast. Even those who categorically refuse to try oatmeal (and in vain!), Will not remain hungry.

There are several options for an English breakfast. Moreover, the British consider their breakfast and pancakes, which they eat not with sour cream and certainly not with caviar, and not even with wedge syrup. The British pour the pancake with treacle (treacle) - sugar molasses (molasses). Some start the day with a big bowl of corn flakes with milk. All this is abundantly sprinkled with white sugar.

The British drink tea with milk. Milk is poured into the mug first, followed by tea. Such a sequence, according to the British, is mandatory. If you order tea, be sure to underline what kind of tea you want (black, green, herbal or white, i.e. with milk). Who loves tea with lemon, this should also be discussed separately.

Oatmeal, sir!

What do we have for breakfast?

Oatmeal, sir!

This dialogue from the film about Sherlock Holmes by the cult Russian director Igor Maslennikov was loved by many, thanks to the brilliant performance of Nikita Mikhalkov. The viewer recalled his kindergarten childhood, when literally a whole group sat at the table with just such an expression of disgust on their faces and looked with envy at the lucky ones, who already “could go play”. And sympathy for Sir Henry, for whom bad Barrymore again cooked oatmeal - porridge (porridge), filled their hearts: how we understand you!

Oatmeal is sometimes served with soft-boiled eggs and bacon. This is, as they say, morish: for those who do not want to think about food until the evening, enjoying the architectural monuments and landscapes of Great Britain.

The British also eat rice porridge (pudding), but buckwheat, despite its usefulness, is not recognized.

How the British cook porridge

In the UK, the process of eating oatmeal is by no means accompanied by negative emotions. Maybe it's the ingredients? Or do they know how to cook it? Oat flakes are lowered into cold milk (water) and, stirring, are brought to a boil. After boiling for a minute or two, the porridge is removed, allowed to stand for a while and laid out on plates.

Many English people do not add salt to this dish at all. And sugar (it is very tasty to use brown (light brown soft sugar) - is sprinkled on porridge, previously poured with cream on top from the heart. The British are famous for their sweet tooth! Sometimes instead of sugar they use honey or molasses (treacle).

Some people use a microwave to cook porija, in which they place a dish of oatmeal in milk for 3.5 minutes.

The opinion of English scientists about oatmeal.

Oatmeal is a source of B vitamins that are responsible for the health of your nerves. Perhaps that is why the British have an imperturbable calmness? According to scientists from Cardiff University (Cardiff University, UK), regular consumption of oatmeal for breakfast can make you even smarter.

The experiment was conducted with a group of volunteers aged 30 to 80 who ate oatmeal for breakfast for a month. It was found that in just a week, the participants in the experiment improved brain function, and as side effects, the subjects received cheerfulness and good mood.

Not only porridge is prepared from oatmeal, but also soups, desserts, pies and kissels. A traditional Welsh breakfast, for example, consists of patties made from a variety of seaweed mixed with oatmeal. The mixture is fried in fat and served with shellfish or other seafood.

English scientists are famous for having their own authoritative opinion on literally everything in the world. It turns out that the custom of pouring milk into the cup first also has a scientific background. The fat in milk is contained in balls that burst when boiling water is added to a cup, thereby improving the taste of tea.

Full English breakfast

A fry or full English breakfast is a fried egg, bacon, sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes. Much attention is paid to the appetizing arrangement of seemingly simple ingredients on a plate: fried eggs (or scrambled eggs), sausage, 2 pieces of bacon, half a tomato and 2-3 mushrooms.

Sauces, of which there are a great many varieties on the island, are served separately. Depending on the area, the ingredients may vary, but not significantly. For an amateur, some details can be added.

The British mainly eat bread in the form of toast, cutting a piece at an angle, and the crusts are cut off. No one is in a hurry to butter hot toast. No hodgepodge, which Russian journalists like to write about, is allowed. The English wield a knife and a fork no worse than the Chinese use chopsticks, consistently sending tiny pieces cut from different components into their mouths.

Brunch is breakfast & lunch

If you are used to eating in such a way that it is not clear whether it is a late breakfast or an early lunch, you can enjoy brunch from 11.00 to 16.00. The word brunch is formed by the merger of the words breakfast & lunch. Very often, in addition to tea (coffee), juice or even wine is included in the brunch menu, and all the ingredients of the roast (often doubled) + one or more varieties of pudding or even fried potatoes are stacked on a huge plate. Pies or cookies are served separately.

Often the whole family gathers for brunch on weekends, because the main role here is played by communication. The modern rhythm of life does not allow many Britons to enjoy all the delights of breakfast during the week, they have to make up for it at the weekend.

The authorship of the word branch belongs to Charles Dodgson, better known under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. As a student at Oxford University, he proposed to introduce a new tradition: students and teachers to get together and in a relaxed atmosphere not only have a meal, but also discuss exciting topics.

The Rector of the University approved the idea. The initiative was picked up first at Cambridge, then at other universities. Gentlemen's clubs began to form all over the country, hosting brunches calling for: "Relax, you're not at work." During the gold rush, the brunch moved to America ... and with the outbreak of World War 1, it spread throughout Europe.

Afterword.

The famous English wit Oscar Wilde advised: “If you want to eat well in England, have breakfast three times a day.” Well, if you think that an English breakfast is still not for you, ask the waiter to bring you a continental breakfast. Here it consists of tea (or coffee), juice, toast, butter, jams, muesli and fruits (apples or oranges). Keep in mind that cheese or boiled eggs may be served to you, but sausage, ham and other meat products are not included in the continental breakfast.

    England is a country of traditions rooted in hoary antiquity and very big confusion in such concepts as breakfastquot ;, lunch and dinner .

    Well, judge for yourself: is there breakfast at one in the afternoon? And in England it happens, though it’s already the second one and it’s called lunchquot ;. And dinner is called evening, at eight o'clock, a meal.

    At the same time, there is no gap between the first and second breakfast (lunch) on weekends (in a good English traditional family), and then it will be a lunch called brunch (from brekfast and lunch), and dinner will be served at a time when there is lunch on weekdays .

    An Englishman will never miss a five-o-clock - a traditional tea party, whether it is a weekend or a weekday.

    Now about what, after all, during all these meals, the British have on the table.

    Only by opening his eyes, without getting out of bed, does a resident of foggy Albion like to drink a cup of the strongest tea. It's a little unclear who serves this tea to lonely common people, but we'll be looking at traditions, not how they are performed by one person or another. Well, maybe I got up, warmed it up and drank it.

    Next is the turn of the first breakfast, when there can be oatmeal, scrambled eggs with bacon, toast with jam on the table at the same time (without them - nowhere and never, just like a sandwich with peanut butter for an American), in extreme cases - with marmalade. Coffee Tea. For those who do not want such an abundance, pity - cereal or muesli with milk. And a wide variety of fruits.

    Lunch, in our opinion, working Englishmen use lunch in public catering type of restaurant. It's just a snack, after all, after such a breakfast. They order meat or fish with potatoes, salad, pudding, and some are content with just large sandwiches. And to wash down such a miracle of culinary art is best with beer or ale, yes, yes, they allow themselves.

    And here they are, the cherished five hours. The traditions of five o'clock tea are so extensive that they need to be told separately.

    And here it is, dinner - the most plentiful meal of the day. Here, mashed soups, roast beef / steaks are used, surrounded by vegetables of all kinds: baked, stewed, pickled, boiled or much-loved rice with tomato seasoning. And sauces for every meal. Just don’t look for bread on the table: you won’t find it anyway, because they simply don’t serve it. It is quite possible that the hostess or the cook will go to great lengths and prepare a traditional English meat pie. The meal is completed with sweet and very strong tea, where without it.

    Sweets are buns, sweets, apple pie, pudding and much more.

    If you believe Russian films, especially the unforgettable Sherlock Holmesquot ;, then the British eat only oatmeal for breakfast. If you read Dickens, then the best dish for breakfast is pudding. In fact, for breakfast, the British, like us, prefer sandwiches, sandwiches, fried bacon, herring, scrambled eggs and of course oatmeal. Lunch or second breakfast falls at the time of our lunch and consists of the same dishes as the first breakfast, only scrambled eggs and oatmeal are excluded. The British do a small snack at 5 o'clock, it is sweet and starchy with tea or coffee, and finally lunch equal to our dinner consists of soups, hot dishes, mostly with a lot of meat, and pudding is a must for dessert. The British love ice cream and various strong drinks in the literal sense of the word - grog, mulled wine.

The famous phrase from the popular television series, “Oatmeal, sir!”, actually has nothing to do with traditional English breakfast. Although, it must be admitted that recently the British have become more likely to abandon the classic, hearty and hearty breakfast, and replace it with the same oatmeal or continental breakfast, which consists of a croissant with jam and a cup of coffee. BUT traditional English breakfast residents of the United Kingdom consider it their most important national symbol. According to a survey conducted about the symbols of Great Britain, it is in first place ahead of the royal family, the English pub and sophisticated English humor, which are also recognized as symbols of the British national identity.

It consists of a strict set of products that has not changed for centuries. This is a national historical tradition, it is the basis of British cuisine, which is not particularly diverse, but is saturated with a large number of calories.

It so happened historically that a simple and hearty breakfast was prepared in the families of British workers who, after having a good meal in the morning, were engaged in hard physical labor all day long. And they did not have the opportunity to take any food until the evening. The next meal was only a late home dinner. The purpose of a hearty and high-calorie breakfast was to ensure satiety throughout the day in the cold climate of Great Britain. Years have passed, living and working conditions have changed, daily calorie consumption has changed, but the tradition of a hearty and hearty breakfast still lives on.


consists of fried sausages that have nothing to do with our usual sausages, two strips of fried fatty bacon, fried eggs, fresh or canned tomatoes, fried mushrooms, beans in tomato sauce, fried toast, spread with a thick layer of butter. To this variety is added a bottle of ketchup of impressive size. All products are stacked on a large plate and have a contrasting color scheme. In the middle is a bright yellow fried egg with a white border, and red tomatoes, almost black sausages and bacon, pink beans and golden toast are around it. As a drink, such a satisfying variety is served with tea with milk, or orange juice.

After such a hearty meal, you won’t want to think about food for a very long time, and traditionally the British drink classic tea only at five o’clock in the evening.

This breakfast is called a brunch in the UK and is currently eaten only on weekends. But for numerous tourists, a classic breakfast is offered in hotels daily. High-calorie, heavy food that can satisfy the feeling of hunger for the whole day, not everyone will like it. With such food, despite the fact that it is very tasty, one should be careful. And on ordinary days, the British eat milk oatmeal with honey for breakfast, hard-boiled eggs, and juice or as a drink.

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Great Britain, as an island state, has always existed apart from other European countries. Thanks to this, its population is distinguished by conservatism and adherence to centuries-old traditions. This applies to lifestyle and even food.

The traditional English breakfast, which most Europeans learned about after the adaptation of A. K. Doyle's novels, is only confirmation of this. How did his menu come about and why does it include certain ingredients?

Excursion into history

Classic English breakfast consists of:

  • fried eggs;
  • crispy bacon;
  • fried thin sausages / bengers sausages;
  • tomatoes (fresh, baked);
  • stewed white beans (sometimes fried mushrooms);
  • toasted toast;
  • oils;
  • jam;
  • pudding (white or black)

All ingredients are neatly laid out on a large plate, since great attention is paid to serving the dish. Eating in the morning is supplemented with drinks - orange juice, or coffee.

This set of products is by no means random, it is justified by historical and geographical factors. Its foundation was laid in the Victorian era. At that time, the British worked hard, moved mostly on foot, so it was necessary to have breakfast in such a way as to get a boost of energy for the whole day. And only hot and hearty food allowed to withstand the cold and humid climate of the island.

That is why the English breakfast was high-calorie, nutritious and consisted mainly of foods that could be boiled, heated / fried. Although the tables of the aristocrats were filled with a variety of dishes (on them in the morning you could see pheasant legs, baked halibut, sausages, smoked honey bacon, fresh fruit and marmalade), ordinary workers breakfasted much more modestly. Their morning meal consisted of available products - eggs, bread, sausages.

The traditional composition of what is eaten in England for breakfast became entrenched among its population after the release in 1859 of the bestseller by I. Beaton on home economics and cooking. In her book, the author argued the need for a hearty breakfast and gave a number of recipes. These dishes appealed to simple and wealthy Englishmen.

What do modern British people eat for breakfast?

Back in the 20th century, most English people traditionally had a hearty breakfast. But in modern realities, the inhabitants of foggy Albion prefer a lighter and faster breakfast. They do not have time to prepare a varied meal that includes several ingredients.

What do the British eat for breakfast? It often starts at 7-8 in the morning and consists of oatmeal or muesli with milk, yogurt, fresh fruit, tea/juice. Sometimes the morning meal includes only a cup of coffee with a sandwich.

Many people think that their daily English breakfast is oatmeal. The inhabitants of England really love this nutritious porridge and willingly eat it in the morning with fruit or a soft-boiled egg with bacon. But working English people rarely eat oatmeal, because it takes a long time to cook. Now only a small part of the British eat breakfast at home. The rest do it in restaurants, cafes, where breakfast is served almost all day.

At 11 p.m., residents of the UK are scheduled to have a snack - a snack. It is also called second breakfast. It is lighter than the first one. For lunch in England they drink a cup of tea / coffee with a piece of cake or biscuit. Its main purpose is to satisfy the feeling of hunger between main meals.

On the signs of many catering establishments you can see the inscription "Full English Breakfast". This means that they serve a full breakfast with traditional ingredients. The energy value of this "set" is about 1000 kcal. It gives a charge of strength and vivacity for most of the day. But there is also a lighter version of the English breakfast, including fat-free bacon, low-calorie sausages. It is intended for people who are on a diet.

Since the British state consists of several territorial units, the food system in them is similar, although it has its own distinctive features. In an essential morning attribute is blood sausage, oatmeal cakes or potato pancakes. impossible to imagine without white pudding. This is by no means a dessert, but a sausage stuffed with pork meat and cereals. In Wales they serve seaweed bread in the morning, and in Cornwall they serve fried potatoes.

On weekends, the British pay tribute to traditions by preparing a full breakfast, which the whole family gathers for.

English breakfast at the hotel

The popularity of the typical English breakfast increased significantly after the First and Second World Wars. It began to be served not only in cafes / restaurants, but also in hotels of the country. The concept of "Bed and Breakfast" in England refers to the morning meal, which includes scrambled eggs, toast and other traditional food.

Sometimes the morning meal menu may include pancakes with strawberry jam. From drinks, you can choose from classic tea with milk, coffee, juice. Bed and Breakfast is served at the hotel at 8-9 am.

Breakfast in England is more than just food. This is a tribute to traditions, the desire for stability in one's own habits. It is incredibly tasty, as it includes the favorite ingredients of the British, so it is popular not only among locals, but also among tourists.

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