10 Healthy British Recipes
Its hard to say what exactly constitutes a British recipe when we live in such a beautifully diverse mash of cultures. From spaghetti Bolognese with the kids on a Monday night to a celebratory curry on the weekend, everywhere you look, Britain’s favourite meals are sparkled with influence from other cultures. So what exactly defines typical, traditional British food? Whether your looking to reignite some childhood nostalgia, or wondering, what do British people eat? join me as I decide in this list of 10 healthy British recipes
Fish and Chips Fake-Away Recipe
The first meal that springs to mind when i think British recipes is fish and chips. Conquering nearly 40% of Britain's take-away food market, fish and chips has always, and will always be a firm favourite. With multiple chippies in every single UK town, no trip to the seaside would be complete without the obligatory fish and chip dinner. Whilst fish and chips actually also holds the spot for the lowest calorie take-away option, a plate of deep fried battered fish and chips will still come in at around 900kcal so why not try this low calorie fake-away option instead.
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Sugar free Ketchup Recipe
Whilst we're on the subject of chips, every chip needs a little lick of ketchup. Tomato sauce, popular across the globe is particularly sacred in Britain. The big debate of which is the best, Heinz or Daddies? Well, actually, I think my sugar free ketchup is the best. Why don't you try it and decide?
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Fish Cake Recipe With Cod and Parsley
Before we stray too far from the fish and chip talk, lets have a little look at what else is on the menu, for those with smaller appetites, a fish cake would be a common choice, fish, mashed with potato and then formed into a breaded patty and once again fried, this was a common sight in my child hood, it was such a cheap meal! Nowadays I prefer to make them myself with a higher fish content and much more flavour!
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Garlic And Herb Mashed Potato Recipe
Speaking of potatoes, we British really do have a thing for them, a cheap and versatile ingredient that everybody loves, there's so many ways to enjoy potatoes, like mashed potato! Its not just bodger and badger that love mash. Everyone has their preferred way of making mash but have you ever tried it with garlic and herbs? You definitely should give this recipe a whirl.
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Low Calorie Cottage Pie Recipe
So what would you serve mashed potato with? Well, on the side of basically anything but you can also use it to create pies, Yes, that's right, often in Britain, pies are made without pastry and instead have a thick layer of mashed potato spread on top and baked until crispy. It really is beautiful, just like this traditional cottage pie, a pie made with minced beef, vegetables and gravy and topped with a cheesy mash.
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Fish Pie With Salmon, Cod and Haddock
If you don't love cottage pie then how about trying a fish pie, also known as admirals pie. Fish and vegetables in a creamy white parsley sauce topped with a thick layer of mash that crisps up nicely as it bakes in the oven. Just like grandma used to make!
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Cheese, Spinach And Potato Bake Recipe
You may be noticing theres a lot of meat and fish so far in the typical British diet. I was vegetarian for a large portion of my childhood and back then, it was largely a case of “go without” or if your parents were supportive enough, they'd substitute you with expensive Linda McCartney sausages or a Quorn fillet. As diets diversified, pubs and carveries across the UK started to expand their vegetarian options, and something similar to this cheesy potato bake would have been a common sight in replacement for the traditional meat, potato and two veg meal. Even now, with many vegan and vegetarian options, you may notice that the majority of meat free meal options that you find in cafes and restaurants have taken inspiration from other countries, particularly Asia and India.
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Healthy Baked Bean Recipe
A staple on the plates of many British kids plates are baked beans. Whether you had it on a breakfast with eggs and bacon or with your chicken nuggets, beans were in your childhood, but was it Heinz or Branston? Our house was always Heinz growing up and that was the inspiration for my healthy baked bean recipe, I think it tastes exactly the same but without the added sugar….and a fraction of the price! You should definitely check this out if your looking for traditional British recipes.
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Low Calorie Scotch Egg Recipe
Summer lunches, picnics, parties, the warm sun shining…or more realistically: Picky bits in the garden any time the weather exceeds 15°c. The times that scotch eggs were made for. Unavailable in the rest of the world, scotch eggs were created by the boojie London department store Fortnum & Mason over 100 years ago. They are now available in every food shop in various sizes and loved by all. They can however be quite calorific when you take into account the full fat pork mince and breadcrumbs they are made with and you'll really enjoy this scotch egg recipe made with chicken mince if you are looking for a healthy British recipe idea.
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Roast Chicken Recipe With Lemon And Herbs
When I ran a poll on the most popular british meal, a roast dinner was one of the top contenders. A meal that typically, in other countries, is only made on special occasions like thanksgiving in America, is a weekly event in the UK, the great British Sunday dinner. So popular, we now have restaurants, called carveries, dedicated to providing a roast dinner with all the trimmings, every day of the week. A roast dinner typically consists of a roasted joint or bird like this roast chicken with lemon and thyme, roast potatoes, 2-3 types of vegetable, yorkshire puddings and of course a drowning of thick salty gravy.
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Healthy Apple Sauce Recipe
If you love a roast but are more incined to choose gammon or pork than chicken then you best be having it with a generous scoop of apple sauce. Even now, I drown my meat in apple sauce, so its a good thing i created this healthy sugar free apple sauce recipe to make sure I can do it as often as I like without damaging my health. Its so quick and easy too.
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Bubble And Squeak Recipe
Is your kitchen full of leftovers after that super yummy traditional british roast dinner? Then you best check out this bubble and squeak recipe. Bubble and squeak is a recipe designed specifically to use up leftovers and its a traditional british boxing day meal for many households across the UK. Simply mix together all of your leftover veg with leftover or fresh boiled or roasted potatoes and either fry or bake until crispy on top.
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Low Calorie Trifle
Its probably time for dessert now, right? Well next on our list of British recipe ideas is this low calorie trifle recipe. Not the healthiest recipe I've created by a long stretch but its much lower calorie than store bought alternatives. Trifle is a layered dessert consisting of 0kcal strawberry jelly, bulked out by fresh fruit, a layer of low fat custard and topped with low fat whipped cream and colourful sprinkles just for decoration. Of course this recipe is full of ultra processed foods but everybody has to have a treat now and again, right?
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Healthy Vegan Snickers Bar Recipe
If your more excited by the word “healthy” than the words “l;ow calorie” this vegan snickers bar might just give you the nutritional hit youre craving. Snickers bars, once called marathon bars are a very popular British chocolate bar consisting of nougat, caramel and peanuts coated in chocolate. In this recipe, the nougat has been formed from oats, the caramel from dates and of course, a generous helping of peanuts all coated in a dark vegan chocolate. This is a dessert everyone can enjoy even if you don't reside in Britain.
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Oaty Apple Crumble
Finally we end our list with one of my most popular and oldest recipes. Oaty Apple Crumble. Apple crumble is definitely one of the most popular desserts in england, especially in winter as its served warm with custard or ice cream. Typically apple crumble would be laden with sugar and the crumble made from nutritionally bland flour so the ingredients have been tweaked to create a healthier, more satisfying dessert option….or even breakfast….no judgement here!
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There we have it, 15 healthy british recipes that I feel everyone in England can agree, remind you of the recipes grandma used to make. Incorporating these 15 healthy British recipes into your meal rotation can not only add variety and flavour to your diet but also provide insight into what British people commonly enjoy. From the iconic fish and chips to the beloved roast dinner, these dishes represent the essence of traditional British meals. Embracing wholesome ingredients and mindful preparation, these recipes offer a healthier take on classic favourites without sacrificing taste. So, whether you’re craving a comforting plate of baked beans or indulging in the sweetness of trifle, these recipes showcase the best of British culinary delights. Here’s to enjoying good food and good health, one nourishing bite of these healthy British recipes at a time!
