One of the most internationally recognised British dishes, a full English or 'fry up' as it is more colloquially known, is a centuries old British breakfast tradition. In this blog post, we will be exploring the history of the Full English Breakfast and how you can recreate it at home.
Believed to date back to the 13th Century, this hearty breakfast was first served in the country homes of the English gentry. Well known for their breakfast feasts, the full English breakfast was seen as an indulgence and an opportunity to flaunt their wealth to visiting friends, relatives and neighbours.
This fried breakfast became increasingly popular throughout the Victorian era and was quickly adopted by aspiring and wealthy Victorians. The full English breakfast became an important social event and was turned into an elegant and refined affair for people to partake in the old Anglo-Saxon tradition of hospitality.
By the Edwardian era, the full English began to be eaten by the middle classes and was becoming more of a family meal as well as a substantial start to the day for many workers. Fast forward to the 1950s and a large portion of the British population was starting their day with the a full English breakfast.
A breakfast that was once reserved for the gentry became a staple breakfast for the working class. Nowadays, it is so popular in Britain and Ireland that many cafes and pubs offer the meal at any time of day as an "all-day breakfast". While there are many variations on this fried breakfast across the UK and Ireland, there are some stable ingredients that make up this Great British dish.
A full English breakfast typically includes bacon, fried, poached or scrambled eggs, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread or buttered toast, and sausages. Black pudding, baked beans, and bubble and squeak are also often included. The food is traditionally served with tea or coffee, as well as fruit juices.
One variation is the traditional Cornish breakfast which includes hog's pudding and Cornish potato cakes as well as fried potatoes. The traditional Welsh breakfast reflects the coastal aspect of Welsh cuisine with the inclusion of cockles and laverbread while the Scottish breakfast includes Scottish style black pudding, Lorne sausage, Ayrshire middle bacon and tattie scones.
If you want to enjoy a truly British breakfast then look no further than our fantastic Best of British Breakfast Meat Box. Packed full of delicious meat, fantastic accompaniments and everything in between, this is the perfect way to get ready for the day ahead. All of the cuts in our meat hampers are from our farm, freshly prepared by our in-house butchers.
This meat box includes everything you need to recreate a delicious traditional full English breakfast at home. Here are some of the delicious dishes our customers have shared, made with our produce:
