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Ploughman's lunch

Name: Ploughman's lunch
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: Ploughman's lunch
Ingredients: 2 thick slices of crusty bread; 50 grams of mature cheddar cheese; 50 grams of stilton cheese; 2 slices of thick ham; 1 hard boiled egg; 2 pickled onions; 1 tablespoon of fruit chutney; 1 small apple; 1 handful of cherry tomatoes; 1 small knob of butter

Ploughman’s lunch is a traditional British meal that is perfect for a simple midday snack or a hearty weekend meal. It consists of cold items that require very little cooking and rely on high quality ingredients for the best flavour. This dish traditionally features crusty bread, sharp cheese and tangy pickles to create a satisfying balance. You can prepare it quickly and serve it on a large wooden board for a rustic feel.

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Why you should try ploughman's lunch

A ploughman’s lunch is incredibly versatile because you can adjust the components to suit your personal taste. It requires minimal time in the kitchen since most items are served cold and ready to eat. The combination of salty cheese, sweet apples and crusty bread makes it a very filling choice. It is also a great way to use up bits of cheese or cooked ham you have in the fridge.

Follow these simple steps for ploughman's lunch

Step 1

Prepare the egg: Place the egg in a small pot of water and bring it to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes to ensure the yolk is set but not overly dry. Once finished, cool the egg under cold water and peel the shell off carefully.

Step 2

Cut the components: Slice the crusty bread into thick pieces and set them aside. Cut the cheddar and stilton into wedges or large chunks so they are easy to grab. Slice the apple into thin wedges and halve the cherry tomatoes if they are large.

Step 3

Arrange the board: Place the bread and cheeses onto a large plate or wooden board. Add the ham slices and the halved boiled egg next to the bread. Put the pickled onions and a generous spoonful of chutney in small piles or little dishes.

Step 4

Final touches: Spread a little butter on the bread if you like. Add the apple slices and tomatoes to fill any gaps on the board. Serve your meal immediately while the bread is fresh and the cheese is at room temperature.

Good advice for ploughman's lunch

Always use the freshest bread possible for your ploughman’s lunch as it is the base of the whole meal. If you have time, take the cheese out of the fridge thirty minutes before serving to let the flavours develop properly. You can swap the ham for pork pies or scotch eggs if you want a more substantial version. Crusty sourdough or a simple white bloomer both work well with the sharp pickles. Try different types of chutney to find the one that best matches your choice of cheese. Adding a few stalks of celery or some walnuts can provide a nice crunch to the plate.

Make sure to drain the pickled onions well so the vinegar does not soak into the bread.

See also these recipes: spinach soup, pan-fried chicken mini fillet or seafood salad with prawns.

Ingredients

servings

Adjust quantity

2 thick slices of crusty bread
50 grams of mature cheddar cheese
50 grams of stilton cheese
2 slices of thick ham
1 hard boiled egg
2 pickled onions
1 tablespoon of fruit chutney
1 small apple
1 handful of cherry tomatoes
1 small knob of butter

Cooking time

Kitchen tools

Bread knife
Wooden serving board
Small pot for boiling eggs
Small bowl for chutney

Nutrition information

NUTRITIONper serving

Energy:3389 kJ / 810 kcal
Fat:48 g
- of which saturates:28 g
Carbohydrates:55 g
- of which sugars:12 g
Protein:42 g
Fibre:4 g
Salt:2.2 g

A mature cheddar is the most traditional choice for a ploughman's lunch because of its sharp flavour. You can also add a blue cheese like stilton or a crumbly lancashire to provide variety. The key is to choose cheeses that have a strong enough taste to stand up to the pickles.

Can I make a ploughman's lunch in advance?

You can prepare most of the components for a ploughman's lunch ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. It is best to slice the bread and apple just before serving so they stay fresh and do not go dry or brown. Keep the wet items like pickles in separate containers until you are ready to assemble the board.

What else can I add to my ploughman's lunch?

You can add items like cold sausages, pork pies or a few slices of roast beef to make the meal heartier. Some people also enjoy adding radishes, celery sticks or even a small salad to their ploughman's lunch for extra freshness.