List of Welsh dishes facts for kids
Welsh dishes are known for being simple and hearty. Many recipes were not written down. Instead, families passed them from one generation to the next. This means traditional Welsh cooking often came from everyday meals. It was not like some other cultures where fancy dishes from rich families were changed for everyone else. Even though there are not many old cookbooks, Welsh food is very special!
Contents
Discovering Welsh Dishes
Bara Brith
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Bara Brith is a tasty fruit loaf from Wales. People used to grind fresh spices for it. Historically, it was made with yeast and butter. Today, it often uses baking soda and margarine. The fruit in it includes raisins, currants, and sultanas. These are often soaked in cold tea before baking. People usually serve Bara Brith in slices with butter. It is a popular treat for afternoon tea. Its name means "speckled bread."
Cawl
Cawl, pronounced "cowl," is often called Wales' national dish. It dates back to the 11th century. Originally, it was a simple broth with meat and vegetables. Families could cook it slowly all day while they worked. Sometimes, it was made over several days. First, they made a meat stock. Then, they added vegetables the next day. People would skim the fat off the top. It was served as two dishes: first soup, then stew. Leftovers could be refreshed with new vegetables.
In the past, cawl had very little meat. Potatoes were used to make it bigger. Today, cawl often has beef or lamb. It might be served with plain oatmeal dumplings. People traditionally ate cawl with a special wooden spoon.
Cockles
Cockles are small shellfish very popular in Wales. They are usually steamed. You can find them served in many different ways.
Crempog
Crempog are thick Welsh pancakes. They are often made with buttermilk, oats, and dried fruit. There are different kinds of Crempog. Some use yeast, some use refined flour, and others are based on oatmeal. They are a traditional treat.
Faggots
Faggots are a type of Welsh meatball. They are made from lamb or pig's liver. Onions and a cereal binder are also added.
Glamorgan Sausage
The Glamorgan sausage is a special Welsh vegetarian sausage. It has no meat or skin. Instead, it is made with cheese, usually Caerphilly cheese. Sometimes cheddar cheese is used. Leeks or spring onions are also added. This mixture is then covered in breadcrumbs. It is rolled into a sausage shape before cooking.
Laverbread
Laverbread, or Bara Lawr, is a unique Welsh food. It is made from porphyra seaweed. The seaweed is cooked slowly for up to ten hours. It turns into a smooth puree called laver. Sometimes, oatmeal is cooked with the seaweed to make laverbread. It is often eaten for breakfast with bacon and cockles. It can also be fried into small patties. Today, laverbread is made commercially. It is washed, cooked, chopped, and packaged.
Leek Soup
Leek soup is a comforting Welsh soup. It is known as Cawl Cennin in Welsh. Sometimes it is called Cawl Mamgu, which means "Granny's stew."
Lobscaws
Lobscaws is a popular stew. It is often eaten in Holyhead and Anglesey. It is a bit like Cawl. It often uses leftovers from other meals.
Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is a dish often linked with Wales. It is a type of meat pie made with lamb. It has a topping of mashed potatoes.
Tatws Pum Munud
Tatws Pum Munud means "five minute potatoes" in English. It is a traditional Welsh stew. It is made with potatoes, vegetables, and bacon. This stew is cooked on top of the stove.
Tatws Popty
Tatws Popty means "oven potatoes" in English. This is a traditional Welsh casserole. It includes potatoes, vegetables, and a joint of meat. It is cooked in an oven.
Welsh Cakes
Welsh cakes, or pice ar y maen, mean "cakes on the stone." They are small, round, spiced cakes. Traditionally, they were cooked on a bakestone. Today, they are often cooked on a griddle. You can eat them hot or cold. They are good plain or topped with sugar or butter. The dough is mixed with raisins, sultanas, and sometimes currants. It is similar to shortbread. This means they can be like biscuits when griddled. They are a bit more like cake when baked in an oven.
Welsh Rarebit
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Welsh rarebit is a dish of seasoned melted cheese. It is poured over toasted bread. People in Wales loved roasted cheese, which led to this dish. The cheese needs to be a hard one, like cheddar. The name "Welsh rabbit" was used as early as 1725. However, Welsh people rarely ate rabbit because it was expensive. The name "rarebit" might have been used later to make the dish sound nicer.
