If you had to define one meal that epitomizes English cooking it would be the Sunday Roast. its a mainstay that’s been carried forth since King Henry VII’s reign. There are two theories about how this tradition began. It is said that the Yeomen Warders (bodyguards of the British Monarch) were paid a portion of their salary in beef. They would eat roast beef every Sunday after church. As this tradition carried on, the guards became referred to as “Beefeaters”. The second theory was that King Henry was paranoid about being assassinated, and with good reason. He did murder two of his wives after all. Worried about being poisoned he had his warders taste the beef first. No one knows which story is true but either way, this popular trend of eating a Sunday roast began in King Henry’s court.

Five hundred years later, many families still follow this tradition. Every Sunday they pop a roast in the oven and then head off to church or pub secure in the knowledge that a wonderful meal awaits them. At my mom’s house it was a firm rule that everyone must be home in time for Sunday dinner. The meal brought our family together once a week to share a nice meal and catch up, it was something that we came to cherish.

The Sunday Roast Dinner Menu

If you are salivating over the idea of a perfectly roasted meat with crispy vegetables, a rich gravy made from drippings and a fluffy Yorkshire pudding then you’ve found the right page.

We’ve put together a list of recipes to help you create the perfect roast dinner from the main course all the way through to the pudding. Sunday roast dinners with all the trimmings are best served piping hot so be sure to warm your plates for the perfect experience.