What is the national dish of England?
Fish and chips is widely seen as England's national dish. Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and chicken tikka masala are also often named as favorites.
Fish and chips became popular in the mid-1800s, when railways brought fresh fish from the coast to cities. Fried fish was influenced by Jewish immigrants from Portugal and Spain, while chips may have come from northern England or Belgium. The first fish and chip shops opened in London and Lancashire in the 1860s.
Cod and haddock are the most common fish, coated in batter and served with thick chips, salt and malt vinegar, often with mushy peas. During World War II, fish and chips were one of the few foods not rationed in Britain, because they were seen as important for morale.
Other contenders
The Sunday roast, with roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, potatoes, vegetables and gravy, is a much-loved tradition. In 2001, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook called chicken tikka masala a true British national dish, as a symbol of how Britain absorbs other cultures. The full English breakfast is another famous meal.
Did You Know?
England has thousands of fish and chip shops. They are often called chippies, and many towns hold competitions to name the best one.