Your lunch break just got a major upgrade! This Ploughman's Lunch Recipe takes just a few minutes to assemble and hits every craving you didn't know you had until now!
Some lunches just hit different.
That's where the Ploughman's lunch comes in. It's a British pub staple that's basically a curated cheese board with serious staying power, with ham, mature cheddar, and all the tangy, crunchy, savory things that make cold lunches actually exciting.
It's deceptively simple but wildly satisfying. There's a reason this combo has been fueling pub-goers in Britain for decades.
It was my favorite meal on my recent trip to visit family in England. This version is based on the Ham and Cheese Saracen's Ploughman's that I had at the Saracen's Head in Highworth, England.
This Ploughman's Lunch recipe will show you how to build an awesome, authentic pub-worthy Ploughman's Lunch that will satisfy all your cravings!
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The History Of The Ploughman's Lunch
The Ploughman's lunch sounds ancient and pastoral, and the main ingredients (bread and cheese) are indeed ancient.
However the name "Ploughman's lunch" and its association with pubs is actually surprisingly modern.
The term "Ploughman's lunch" was popularized in the 1950s by the British Cheese Bureau as a brilliant marketing push to sell more cheese in pubs. But the combination of the Ploughman's itself (bread, cheese, pickles, and cold meat), has roots going back centuries as a working-class meal.
Farmhands and rural laborers needed lunches that didn't require cooking, and were cheap and portable. Cheese and bread were pantry staples. Pickles and chutneys added preservation, and cold cuts made it into a filling meal.
By the 1970s, the Ploughman's rose in popularity and was a pub menu fixture across the UK.
This pub stable became a customizable plate that varied by region, but typically maintain a balance of salty, sharp, tangy, and is always filling.
It's proof that the best food doesn't need to be cooked. I will prove it to you here!
🥘 Ingredients
So, I'm going to show you what I used to create my Ploughman's, but feel free to customize yours to suit your tastes.
The Cheese
I bought the following cheeses for my Ploughman's:
- Mature English Cheddar - I consider this an ABSOLUTE MUST for your Ploughman's! 😄Of course it is ok to choose your favorite cheddar, but I beg of you to buy a block of cheddar, and not sliced! You could also substitute with aged Gruyère or a firm English cheese like Red Leicester.
- Saint Agur Blue - to be honest, I wanted an English Blue Stilton, but it wasn't available at the store I was at so bought this delicious French blue cheese from the Auvergne region instead. If you can find English Blue Stilton, I highly recommend it for your homemade British pub lunch!
- Saint Angel Triple Cream Brie - here's another French cheese that is completely decadent and worth a place in your Ploughman's! It has a buttery taste will spread beautifully on your crusty bread!
In short, I recommend a cheddar (hopefully you'll select an English Mature one 😄), a blue cheese, and a brie or perhaps a camembert. Go with these, or choose your favorites.
Three different cheeses will give you a nice variety of tastes and textures for your platter.
By the way, you want to use blocks of cheese...no sliced cheese allowed. 😄
💭 Top tip
For best results, allow your cheeses to come to room temperature. Cold cheese is harder to taste and doesn't release its full flavor. Pull the cheeses out of the fridge 20 minutes before assembling. They will be creamier, more aromatic, and the cheddar will be easier to break into chunks.
Fresh Veggies And Fruit
Fresh vegetables and fruit add crunch and freshness. They're not just garnish. They're palate cleansers that keep the plate from feeling too heavy, and add so much color to your lunch plate!
Here's what I bought for my platter:
- Celery
- Radishes - if you can find Easter egg radishes do yourself a favor and get those! They are so beautiful and colorful!
- Cucumber
- Cherry tomatoes - I got the colorful medley Wild Wonders tomatoes - the more color, the better!
- Large tomato (I selected an Heirloom tomato) - you'll cut these into slices
- Apple - (I used Fuji apple) - this will add a bit of sweetness to your Ploughman's
These are all great choices to include, but by all means substitute your favorite fresh veggies and fruit to create your perfect homemade pub fare!
The Pickle (Chutney)
Now you need a bit of tang!
Branston Pickle is the traditional choice, a sweet and tangy brown relish made from vegetables and spices. This popular British condiment also offers a HUGE umami flavor with spicy and wonderfully savory notes.
For me, a Ploughman's isn't a Ploughman's without Branston Pickle.
If you can't find it, use mango chutney, apple chutney, or even a good fig spread. The sweetness balances the salt and sharpness of everything else.
Other Essential Ingredients
In addition to the cheese, fresh veg and fruit, and pickle or chutney, the following ingredients will round out your taste of England:
- Ham - deli ham will work, but ask for it sliced thick. You want substantial pieces that you can fold or tear, not tissue-thin slices that disappear.
- Crusty bread - I used a French baguette. The bread you use needs structure. Soft sandwich bread turns to mush when you load it with chutney and cheese. Go for a rustic sourdough, or a crusty baguette, with a chewy crumb and crust that crackles when you slice it.
- Butter - Use salted butter at room temperature so it spreads easily without tearing the crust.
That'll do it for the ingredients! Now on to the best bit!
🔪 Instructions
Prepping
Take out your cheeses and allow to come to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Also let your butter come to room temperature and soften. I also like to let my ham come to room temperature during this time.
In the meantime, prep your ingredients. Wash and slice/cut your veggies and fruit. Slice the bread and put your Branston pickle (or chutney) in some nice bowls.
Add all ingredients to a large plate or platter.
Assembly - No Hard and Fast Rules, Just Recommendations
Butter your bread, then add a generous dollop of Branston pickle.
Top with a bit of ham, some cheese, then add some veg. Take a bite, and savor the delicious flavor! Try to create a balance of salty, creamy, tangy, and crunchy in every bite!
Suggestions For Your Ploughman's Experience
As mentioned, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to enjoying your authentic pub lunch.
Follow my recommendations, or you can also just opt to graze in whatever way you want, enjoying a bit of apple every now and again!
Pair this platter with a British ale like a pale ale, brown ale, or even a crisp lager. If you want something lighter, a dry cider is perfect.
If you are a wine drinker like I am, then choose a dry Riesling, Chardonnay, or even a light Pinot Noir which will all work nicely.
Teetotal? Then go for some sparkling water with lemon.
Although this lunch is filling enough to stand on its own, if you would like a simple green salad with vinaigrette is all you will need to round out your Ploughman's platter.
Enjoy the Ploughman's experience on your own terms, and walk away from the table completely and utterly filled and satisfied!
FAQ
You want a nice crusty bread (not soft sandwich bread). Great choices include a French baguette, or a rustic sourdough. Your bread needs to have structure enough to prevent any sogginess from the chutney and provide some crunch!
If you only include one cheese, let it be a mature English cheddar! Nice and crumbly with outstanding flavor! I also recommend a blue English Stilton, and although not English, a triple cream French brie. This trio is PERFECTION!
Some Other British Recipes You Will Enjoy!
Love British food? Then you'll want to try these recipes:
- Easy and Scrummy British Beans on Toast - this humble dish is also incredibly delicious especially when topped with cheese!
- The PERFECT Bacon Sarnie Recipe - bacon sandwiches done the British way is absolute heaven!
- Scottish Mince and Tatties - minced beef and creamy mashed potatoes never tasted so good!
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Cheers!
Grace
Awesome Authentic Pub-Worthy Ploughman's Lunch Recipe For Real Cravings!
Ingredients
Cheese (blocks, not slices!)
- 6 oz mature English cheddar substitute with aged Gruyère or a firm English cheese like Red Leicester
- 6 oz blue cheese I recommend English blue stilton, or Saint Agur Blue
- 6 oz brie I used Saint Angel Triple Cream Brie; could sub camembert
Fresh Veggies and Fruit
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup radishes sliced or cut into wedges
- ¼ cup celery sliced
- ¼ cup cucumber sliced
- 1 each tomato sliced (Heirloom is fabulous, but you could also use Roma)
- 1 each apple Cut into wedges; Fuji apple is perfect or choose your favorite!
Remaining Essential Ingredients
- ½ cup Branston pickle could sub mango chutney or even a fig spread
- 1 each crusty bread I used a French baguette sliced into 4 pieces (2 for each person)
- 6 oz ham cut on the thick side
- 4 tablespoon salted butter
Instructions
Preparation
- Take out your cheeses and allow to come to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Also let your butter come to room temperature and soften. I also like to let my ham come to room temperature during this time.
- In the meantime, prep your ingredients. Wash and slice/cut your veggies and fruit. Slice the bread and put your Branston pickle (or chutney) in some nice bowls.
- Add all ingredients to a large plate or platter.
Assembly - No Hard and Fast Rules, Just Recommendations
- Butter your bread, then add a generous dollop of Branston pickle.
- Top with a bit of ham, some cheese, then add some veg. Take a bite, and savor the delicious flavor! Try to create a balance of salty, creamy, tangy, and crunchy in every bite!
- You can also just opt to graze in whatever way you want, enjoying a bit of apple every now and again.
- Enjoy the Ploughman's experience on your own terms, and walk away from the table completely and utterly filled and satisfied.
