The Great British Sunday Roast

Sunday roast, Sunday lunch, Sunday dinner, roast dinner, full roast, whatever you like to say it’s a staple of British culture. The meal is also heavily prevalent in some English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. It is also a common meal to be enjoyed in parts of South Africa.

It is mostly believed that the Sunday roast dinner as we know it today came from the 15th century, particularly in Yorkshire. There are many theories and traditions as to what started and kept the tradition of a Sunday meal consisting of meat, vegetables and potatoes, such as being the meal after Sunday church. Families would fast in the morning, having a bigger substantial meal after the service to break the fast. It is thought that families would prepare the meat and vegetables before church and have them cook while they were at the service. When they returned home, the food would be cooked and the juices and fats would then be used as gravy.

Modern Roast Dinners

The term ‘roast’ comes from meat being traditionally roasted on an open flame, usually being turned to ensure an even share of the heat. The modern method of placing meats and vegetables inside the oven to cook, similar to baking, became popular in the mid to late Victorian 1800s when the household oven was introduced. The way you’d bake your bread became the way you’d roast your meat.

What makes a Sunday Lunch? 

Most people would agree that British roast dinners are made up of three staple elements; meat or meat replacement, potatoes, and other vegetables. After these basic elements are met then you can add traditional accompaniments; Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and a selection of sauces.

Types of meat:

Types of vegetables (boiled, steamed, roasted):

Condiments:

Special occasion accompaniments:

These lists of traditional Sunday roast features are in no way exhaustive and change from family to family, country to country, culture to culture. The one thing that unites everyone in their roast dinners is, that they all taste better homemade. Book your Sunday Lunch with us and enjoy our famous delicious roast.