What is a ploughman's lunch?
A ploughman's lunch is a traditional English cold meal usually consisting of bread, cheese, pickle, butter and salad, sometimes with ham, pork pie, apple or a pickled onion. It is a popular pub lunch.
The name suggests a simple meal eaten by farm workers in the fields. People have eaten bread and cheese as a working lunch for centuries.
However, the term ploughman's lunch became popular in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Cheese Bureau promoted it to encourage pubs to sell cheese.
What goes on the plate
A typical ploughman's includes a hunk of crusty bread, a wedge of cheese, often cheddar or Stilton, and a spoonful of pickle, such as Branston.
Other items may include apple slices, celery, coleslaw, hard-boiled eggs or Scotch eggs.
The ploughman's lunch is a popular choice in country pubs, especially in summer. It is often served with a pint of beer or cider.
The meal is a good example of simple English pub food made with local ingredients. Many pubs offer their own versions with local cheeses and chutneys.