Which Country Has Cozier Food?
Comfort food tends to tell you a lot about the place where it became popular. In the UK, hearty pies, sausages, potatoes, gravy, and battered fish show up again and again, while American comfort food covers everything from creamy casseroles to fried chicken, chili, and biscuits with sausage gravy. Of course, both countries have much more varied food cultures than these lists can capture, but these 20 dishes offer a fun look at some familiar favorites.
1. UK: Fish and Chips
Fish and chips is a very well-known food in Britain. Normally, it will consist of fish wrapped in batter with chips. Salt and malt vinegar may be added, as well as tartar sauce or peas. Fish and chips is known to be a takeaway or holiday-by-the-sea food but can be found all across Britain.
2. US: Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is simply pieces of chicken that have been seasoned and breaded and then deep-fried. It will leave you with crispy chicken on the outside. Most people think of fried chicken as being from the Southern states of America, but it can be found across the whole of America.
3. UK: Bangers and Mash
Bangers and mash is simply sausages with mash and usually onion gravy. It is a common dish in Britain and will differ by the type of sausage you choose. Maybe add some peas on the side, and there you have bangers and mash!
4. US: Macaroni and Cheese
There is something about macaroni and cheese that makes you not want to stop eating it. You can have it on the stove or in the oven. Some may top it with browned cheese or breadcrumbs. It's also the kind of food that can appear as a side dish at dinner or become the main event when you're really committed to having a bowl of cheese-covered pasta.
5. UK: Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is made up of minced lamb with vegetables and gravy, all topped with mashed potato. It will have a nice crispy topping that will be browned in places. If beef is used instead, the traditional name is cottage pie, which is an important distinction if you're ordering one in Britain.
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6. US: Meatloaf
Meatloaf is ground beef or some type of meat that has been combined with other ingredients and baked into a loaf shape. Often, it will be covered with some type of sauce. The leftovers will become sandwiches for later on. It's particularly associated with home cooking, which is probably part of why people have such strong opinions about their preferred recipe.
7. UK: Toad in the Hole
The name might make you expect something considerably stranger than what's actually on the plate. Toad in the Hole consists of sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter and is commonly served with gravy and vegetables. Once you know what's involved, the dish makes considerably more sense, even if the name remains wonderfully confusing.
8. US: Biscuits and Gravy
Don't let the word biscuit fool you, this has nothing to do with those biscuits in England. When eating American biscuits and gravy, it's normally a biscuit topped with sausage gravy. Usually, the gravy is peppery. It's especially associated with Southern breakfasts, although plenty of Americans are perfectly happy eating it whenever they get the opportunity.
9. UK: Sunday Roast
You can have any type of meat on your Sunday roast. It can include beef, lamb, chicken, or pork. Roasted meat with potatoes, vegetables, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding. It's less about one specific recipe than sitting down to a substantial meal that gives everyone an excuse to reach for more gravy.
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10. US: Thanksgiving Dinner
Another meal that everyone knows of is Thanksgiving. With turkey, you can serve anything you want. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and any other sides you wish to add. It's always great to have Thanksgiving because you will have lots of leftovers.
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11. UK: Steak and Kidney Pie
Steak and kidney pie will have steak and kidney in gravy wrapped in pastry. It's a classic British savory pie and belongs to a broader tradition of filling pastry with hearty meats and rich sauces. For someone who prefers their comfort food substantial rather than delicate, it's a pretty straightforward choice.
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12. US: Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken pot pie consists of chicken and vegetables in gravy under a pastry crust. After it's cooked, it will have a crispy pastry crust. It's particularly satisfying on a cold day, especially when you get that first serving before anyone else has a chance to claim it.
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13. UK: Beans on Toast
Beans on toast might sound incredibly simple, and that's precisely part of its appeal. You simply put baked beans on a piece of toast. You can always add butter or cheese if desired. It's cheap and a great way to fill yourself up.
14. US: Chili
Chili can contain meat, beans, tomato, and spices. Everyone will have their own recipe. Chili is often served with shredded cheese, sour cream, onions, or crackers. Another great meal that you can throw together for a large group of people.
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15. UK: Cornish Pasty
Cornish pasties are stuffed with many things that could include beef, potato, swede, and onions. All wrapped up in pastry! Today, you don't need to be heading off to work in a mine to appreciate the appeal of having an entire savory meal contained inside pastry.
16. US: Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings can contain different recipes depending on where you're from. Different American regions have their own approaches, with some versions featuring fluffy drop dumplings and others using rolled dough. It's particularly associated with Southern and Appalachian cooking and is exactly the sort of meal that belongs on the table when the weather turns cold.
17. UK: Fish Pie
Fish pie is like many British pies except it's topped with mash. It will consist of fish with some type of sauce, and other things can be included. Once everything is baked together, you get a rich, filling dish that's distinctly British while still being quite different from fish and chips.
18. US: Pot Roast
Pot roast typically is just a big piece of beef. That will be cooked until fork-tender, and then you can have any type of vegetable and gravy with it. It's the sort of dinner that takes time to prepare but rewards you with enough food to make everyone wonder why the leftovers disappeared so quickly.
19. UK: Sausage Rolls
Sausage rolls are another British favorite that turns sausage meat and pastry into a portable snack. They're commonly eaten as a quick bite, party food, or packed lunch, and they're available everywhere from bakeries to supermarkets. The basic combination is uncomplicated, but a freshly baked sausage roll has a way of making the decision to have "just one" surprisingly difficult.
20. US: Apple Pie
Apple pie has to be one of the best desserts that America has to offer. Apple pie is sliced apples that have been put in pastry. Usually, the apples have some spices on them, such as cinnamon. Serve it warm with ice cream or enjoy a slice on its own, and you've got a distinctly American entry to the comfort-food conversation.
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