Pub food or pub grub as is commonly known is a testament and a good representation of the British cuisine as competition for the much envied Michelins Guide stars has led to the adaptation of some serious cooking in the pubs’ kitchens. Most pub food recipes are simple and can easily be made even at home. The good thing about these recipes is also that they can be twisted to suit a person’s own tastes. The easy availability of these recipes has made it possible to bring pub grub to people’s kitchens and what better news could there be especially for those who prefer to have fun at home or just anyone wanting to replicate their favourite pub food in their kitchen.
I mean who doesn’t want to sit down for a football match over some fish and chips, some chicken tikka or even some bangers with mash? Or a party with friends where you get some drinks and have some of your favourite pub grub?
Although some foods such as Ploughman’s board consist of a number of recipes and as such may appear complex, there is even simpler few steps recipes for dishes such as bangers and mash, toad in the hole, fish and chips, burgers, spicy chicken wings among others with some being described below;
Here are 20 popular pub foods along with their recipes and the making process:
1. Fish and Chips:
o Ingredients: white fish fillets, potatoes, flour, baking powder, beer, salt, pepper.
o Making Process:
1. Cut potatoes into thick fries and fry them until golden brown.
2. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in beer to create a batter.
3. Dip fish fillets in the batter and fry them until crispy. Serve with fries.
2. Buffalo Wings:
o Ingredients: chicken wings, hot sauce, butter, garlic powder, salt.
o Making Process:
1. Deep fry or bake chicken wings until cooked and crispy.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter and mix in hot sauce, garlic powder, and salt.
3. Toss the cooked wings in the sauce and serve with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
3. Nachos:
o Ingredients: tortilla chips, ground beef, cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole.
o Making Process:
1. Brown ground beef in a skillet and season with salt and pepper.
2. Spread tortilla chips on a baking sheet and top with ground beef and shredded cheese.
3. Bake until cheese is melted. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.
4. Cheeseburger:
o Ingredients: ground beef, burger buns, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard.
o Making Process:
1. Form ground beef into patties and season with salt and pepper.
2. Grill or pan-fry the patties to desired doneness.
3. Toast burger buns and assemble with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard.
5. Chicken Pot Pie:
o Ingredients: chicken, vegetables (carrots, peas, potatoes), onion, butter, flour, chicken broth, milk, pie crust.
o Making Process:
1. Cook chicken in a pot and shred into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
2. Sauté onion and vegetables in butter until tender. Stir in flour.
3. Gradually add chicken broth and milk, stirring until thickened.
4. Add chicken and pour the mixture into a pie crust. Top with another crust and bake until golden brown.
6. Bangers and Mash:
o Ingredients: sausages, potatoes, butter, milk, salt, onion gravy.
o Making Process:
1. Boil and mash potatoes. Add butter, milk, and salt to taste.
2. Grill or pan-fry sausages until cooked through.
3. Serve sausages on top of mashed potatoes and drizzle with onion gravy.
7. Shepherd's Pie:
o Ingredients: ground lamb or beef, onion, carrots, peas, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mashed potatoes.
o Making Process:
1. Sauté onion, carrots, and peas. Add ground meat and cook until browned.
2. Stir in beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Pour the meat mixture into a baking dish and top with mashed potatoes.
4. Bake until the potatoes are golden brown.
8. Chili Con Carne:
o Ingredients: ground beef, onion, bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, beef broth.
o Making Process:
1. Brown ground beef with onion and bell pepper in a pot.
2. Stir in chili powder and cumin.
3. Add kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and beef broth.
4. Simmer for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve with cornbread or rice.
9. Chicken Caesar Salad:
o Ingredients: chicken breast, romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing.
o Making Process:
1. Season chicken breast with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Grill or pan-fry until cooked through.
2. Chop romaine lettuce and place it in a large bowl.
3. Slice cooked chicken breast into thin strips and add them to the bowl.
4. Add croutons, grated Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing. Toss well and serve.
10. Beef and Guinness Pie:
o Ingredients: beef stew meat, Guinness stout, onions, carrots, potatoes, flour, butter, beef broth, puff pastry.
o Making Process:
1. Season beef stew meat with salt and pepper. In a large pot, brown the meat in butter.
2. Add chopped onions, carrots, and potatoes. Pour in Guinness stout and beef broth.
3. Cover and simmer for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender.
4. Thicken the stew with flour and transfer it to a pie dish. Cover with puff pastry and bake until golden brown.
11. Chicken Tikka Masala:
o Ingredients: chicken breast, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, garam masala, paprika, tomato sauce, cream, butter.
o Making Process:
1. Cut chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Marinate the chicken in a mixture of yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, garam masala, and paprika for at least 1 hour.
2. Grill or sauté the marinated chicken until cooked through.
3. In a separate pan, heat butter and add tomato sauce. Stir in cream and cook until the sauce thickens.
4. Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and simmer for a few minutes. Serve with rice or naan bread.
12. Beer-Battered Onion Rings:
o Ingredients: onions, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, beer, vegetable oil.
o Making Process:
1. Slice onions into rings and separate them.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually whisk in beer until a smooth batter forms.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large pot.
4. Dip the onion rings into the batter, allowing any excess to drip off, and fry them until golden brown and crispy.
13. Steak and Ale Pie:
o Ingredients: beef stew meat, ale, onions, carrots, mushrooms, flour, butter, beef broth, puff pastry.
o Making Process:
1. Season beef stew meat with salt and pepper. In a large pot, brown the meat in butter.
2. Add chopped onions, carrots, and mushrooms. Pour in ale and beef broth.
3. Cover and simmer for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender.
4. Thicken the stew with flour and transfer it to a pie dish. Cover with puff pastry and bake until golden brown.
14. Loaded Potato Skins:
o Ingredients: potatoes, bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions.
o Making Process:
1. Bake potatoes until cooked through. Let them cool slightly.
2. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh, leaving a thin layer on the skin.
3. Place the potato skins on a baking sheet. Fill each skin with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon.
4. Bake until the cheese melts and the skins are crispy. Serve with sour cream and chopped green onions.
15. Beef Sliders:
o Ingredients: ground beef, slider buns, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard.
o Making Process:
1. Form small patties from ground beef and season with salt and pepper.
2. Grill or pan-fry the patties to desired doneness.
3. Toast slider buns and assemble with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard.
16. BBQ Ribs:
o Ingredients: pork ribs, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder.
o Making Process:
1. Season pork ribs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
2. Preheat the grill to medium heat. Grill the ribs for 1-2 hours, turning occasionally.
3. Brush BBQ sauce onto the ribs during the last 15 minutes of grilling.
4. Let the ribs rest for a few minutes before serving.
17. Irish Beef Stew:
o Ingredients: beef stew meat, onions, carrots, potatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaves.
o Making Process:
1. In a large pot, brown beef stew meat in butter or oil.
2. Add chopped onions, carrots, and potatoes. Pour in beef broth.
3. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves.
4. Cover and simmer for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender and the flavors meld together.
18. Spinach and Artichoke Dip:
o Ingredients: spinach, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese.
o Making Process:
1. Cook spinach and artichoke hearts according to package instructions. Drain and chop them.
2. In a bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese until well combined.
3. Stir in the cooked spinach and artichoke hearts.
4. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and bake until hot and bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips or bread.
19. Soft Pretzels:
o Ingredients: all-purpose flour, warm water, active dry yeast, sugar, salt, baking soda, egg wash, coarse salt.
o Making Process:
1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Gradually add the yeast mixture and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
3. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about an hour.
4. Preheat the oven. Shape the dough into pretzel shapes, boil them briefly in water mixed with baking soda, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with coarse salt.
5. Bake the pretzels until golden brown and serve them warm.
20. Classic Caesar Salad:
o Ingredients: romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, anchovies (optional).
o Making Process:
1. Wash and chop romaine lettuce. Place it in a large bowl.
2. Add croutons, grated Parmesan cheese, and, if desired, chopped anchovies.
3. Toss the salad with Caesar dressing until evenly coated. Serve as a side dish or add grilled chicken or shrimp for a complete meal.
Enjoy preparing and savoring these delicious pub foods!