In a previous blog post, we explored the Full English Breakfast and discovered why it is such a Great British dish. Now we will examine another internationally recognised British dish that is a well-loved part of UK cuisine, the Roast Dinner! In this blog post, we will be exploring the history of this Sunday dinner and how you can recreate it at home with our handy Sunday roast delivery box.

What is a Roast Dinner?

A roast dinner is a traditional British and Irish meal that is usually eaten on a Sunday and is also known as Sunday lunch, Sunday dinner and full roast. It typically consists of roasted meat, roast potatoes, vegetables and accompaniments such as gravy and Yorkshire puddings. Some of the typical meats eaten for a Sunday roast include beef, chicken, pork and lamb. Sunday Roasts are served with a range of boiled, steamed and/or roasted vegetables which can alter depending on the season and regional availability.

A roast dinner is essentially a scaled-down version of a Christmas Dinner. Although some people do like to include a lot of the extras that can also be found on the Christmas dinner table including stuffing, sausage meat, pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce. One of the main reasons the roast dinner is still so popular in the UK is its versatility. You can fully customise your roast to suit your taste preferences and even make it vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free!

History of a Roast Dinner

It is widely believed that the Sunday Roast originated in the British Isles as a meal to be eaten after church on Sunday. Some believe the meal dates back to medieval times when the village serfs served the squire for six days a week. Then, on the Sunday, after the morning church service, serfs would assemble in a field and practise their battle techniques and were rewarded with a feast of oxen roasted on a spit. No matter its origins, the roast dinner has become synonymous with British culture and UK cuisine and is a tradition that will continue for many years to come.

Our Roast Dinner Meal Boxes

Here at Kimber's Farm Shop, we are passionate about supplying you with the very best produce so that you can make the most delicious meals from scratch. Our meal boxes come with the finest cuts of fresh meat that are ethically reared, straight from our farm here at Kimbers. We also provide a range of other ingredients so you've got everything you'll need for your next Sunday dinner.

Beef Topside Roast Dinner & Wine Box

Beef - the quintessential meat for a traditional British roast dinner. Enjoy it in style with this Roast With The Most meat box, containing everything you'll need to stir up the perfect Sunday lunch. All of our meat hampers contain cuts straight from the farm, expertly prepared by our in-house butchers. There are three serving sizes to choose from:

• Serves 2 - 4 people and contains: 1kg topside, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 4 x Yorkshire Puddings, 1 x gravy pouch, 1 x mustard & a bottle of Les Olivier Merlot.
• Serves 4 - 6 people and contains: 1.5kg topside, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 6 x Yorkshire Puddings, 1 x gravy pouch, 1 x mustard & a bottle of Les Olivier Merlot.
• Serves 6 - 8 people and contains: 2.5kg topside, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 8 x Yorkshire Puddings, 2 x gravy pouches, 1 x mustard & a bottle of Les Olivier Merlot.

Free Range Chicken Roast Dinner & Wine Box

For some people there is just nothing better than Sunday lunch with a freshly cooked chicken on the table. For you - we present our Roast With The Most meat box with a free-range chicken as its centrepiece. There are three serving sizes to choose from:

• Serves 2 - 4 people and contains: 1 x small free range chicken, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 4 x Yorkshire Puddings, 1 x gravy pouch, 1 x cranberry sauce & bottle of Pasquiers Sauvignon Blanc
• Serves 4 - 6 people and contains: 1 x medium free range chicken, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 6 x Yorkshire Puddings, 1 x gravy pouch,  1 x cranberry sauce & bottle of Pasquiers Sauvignon Blanc
• Serves 6 - 8 people and contains: 1 x large free range chicken, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 8 x Yorkshire Puddings, 2 x gravy pouch, 1 x cranberry sauce & 2 bottles of Pasquiers Sauvignon Blanc

Leg of Pork Roast Dinner & Wine Box

If your Sunday Roast isn't complete without a leg of pork, this Roast With The Most meat box is right up your street. Packed full of everything you need for a British classic, you won't be able to wait to get cooking. This meat hamper contains a cut prepared by our master butchers. There are three serving sizes to choose from:

• Serves 2 - 4 people and contains: 1kg leg of pork, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 4 x Yorkshire Puddings, 1 x gravy pouch, 1 x apple sauce & a bottle of Les Oliviers Merlot
• Serves 4 - 6 people and contains: 1.5kg leg of pork, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 6 x Yorkshire Puddings, 1 x gravy pouch, 1 x apple sauce & a bottle of Les Oliviers Merlot
• Serves 6 - 8 people and contains: 2.5kg leg of pork, potatoes, carrots, seasonal green vegetables, 8 x Yorkshire Puddings, 2 x gravy pouches, 1 x apple sauce & a bottle of Les Oliviers Merlot

You can browse our entire range of meal boxes here.