13 September, 2011

Yorkshire Pudding

Because food is often one of the most talked about sub-topics when discussing culture, here at AngloFiles we're going to be showing you quite a few dishes you may or may not know of that the every day Brit will probably consume.

We've already discussed the time-honored tradition of fish n chips, so today our subject is Yorkshire Pudding. Now, if you're from the United States it is easy for the image of pudding to pop into your head.

Like so:

pudding.

Chocolate, vanilla, tapioca, banana, rice, and butterscotch. Chocolate sprinkles on top? Nilla Wafers mixed in? Whipped Cream? Crushed up Oreos with a gummy worm? The possibilities of sweet tooth satisfactory are endless. However in Britain, this is typically called "custard" and that's understandable, we Americans get that, but what does that mean about the word "pudding"? It means quite a lot actually and can refer to several things. Today we're discussing only one of those definitions: the Yorkshire Pudding.

Yorkshire Puddings

Yorkshire Pudding originated in, can you guess? Yorkshire, and is usually served with meat and gravy. Originally it was made as an inexpensive way to fill your stomach so you wouldn't eat as much during tea (supper time in Yorkshire). You'd eat it first and then not want to eat as much, thus saving money for other things. Today it is made for one purpose: gravy. That's right. Pour your gravy into the bowl-like shape of the soft, warm pudding or use it as a bread roll to mop up the gravy left on your plate after you've finished your meat and potatoes. That's pretty much Yorkshire Pudding in a nutshell. I highly recommend trying it on your next trip to the Dales.