This spin on a classic ploughman’s lunch is easy, and delicious! Cheese, ham, fruit, bread, pickle and beer…what more could you ask for?
It’s FINALLY happening…the movie version of Downton Abbey! While the Southern husband awaits the baseball playoffs and the Southern daughter exults in the glory of Clemson winning yet another championship over Alabama, I am all about the Downton Abbey movie.
And so in honor of this momentous event, here is a totally inauthentic but heartfelt version of a British favorite….ploughman’s lunch!
According to my copious research, ploughman’s lunch is a traditional English cold meal that includes cheese, bread and beer, and often also features cold meat, pickle and/or a hardboiled egg.
Other items I’ve run across as I dug deeper were chutney, sausage, apples and pickled onions. I have no idea which combo of these various things make up the authentic version, but since I had a number of them actually in my house at the time that I made this, I decided to go for the New Jersey version of the ploughman’s lunch. Here goes!
Here’s how you make my version of a Ploughman’s Lunch!
First, A hunk of country bread. That seems to be consistent across all descriptions, and I had just made my favorite almost-no-knead bread that day, so all set there.
Second, A few slices of sharp cheddar. Obviously this is supposed to be English cheddar, but I always, always have a chunk of Vermont Cabot cheddar in my fridge. Yum.
Third, Apple slices. Self-explanatory.
Fourth, Pickles. Now, I saw everything from actual pickles to chutney to pickled onions in the various descriptions of ploughman’s lunch, so I’m thinking that pickle up there covers the general pickle/pickled/chutney category. Plus I love making refrigerator pickles, so I had about 50 of them on hand.
Which brings me to the final essential item for a ploughman’s lunch. Beer.
I know. I know. But it was either this or the Southern husband’s stash of Landshark. Go ahead, all you sticklers for authenticity, let me have it. I know I seriously crossed the line with this one.
So there you have it, my somewhat off-kilter but heartfelt culinary ode to Downton Abbey. And one of the tastiest, easiest lunches I know.
PrintPloughman’s Lunch
This spin on a classic ploughman’s lunch is easy, and delicious! Cheese, ham, fruit, bread, pickle and beer…what more could you ask for? #lunch #ploughmanslunch #beer #framedcooks
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: English
Ingredients
- 2 ounces sliced ham or other cold cooked meat
- 2 ounces sliced cheddar or other firm cheese
- 2 apple wedges or other seasonal fruit
- 1 pickle
- 2 slices or wedges of country style bread
- 1 12 ounce bottle of beer!
Instructions
- Place everything listed above except for the beer on a plate.
- Serve with beer. (How easy was THAT?)
Rachel says
How about tea and scones for afters, as the English say.
I have seen the whole latest series of Downton, and it is mightily different from the first one especially. Note Lady Mary’s zombie like acting.
Kate says
I absolutely LOVE tea and scones – you are on! :)
Keith says
Hi Kate,
Stella Artois…Corona has a lot to learn…but then again, what’s a Downtown Abbey???? lol The lunch looks delicious and takes me back to my days on the Continent as a boy….tomorrows menu
Kate says
Ha! I bet yours was even more delicious as you sound much more experienced at this dish than I am!
Joanne says
How did I not know you were a Downton lover also!! Can.not.wait.
Kate says
We are Soul Sisters, chica! :)
Emily H. says
I am going to have to disagree with the Corona. Not because it is not authentic enough (who the heck cares when you’ve got good tasting grub in front of you and the right intentions!) but because I have a hate-hate relationship with Corona. Otherwise, looks super tasty! I too am so excited about the premier, its been far, far too long since those lovely accents have taken over my life!
Kate says
I hear you about the Corona. And also about the lovely accents!
Nancy Stern says
Our Ethnic Eating group of eight. ( one is not attending) is dining tonight and staying for the program. Menu: English cheeses and crackers, (tba)appetizer, pea soup, Shepherds pie and veggie version of same, trifle and another English dessert.
Enjoy the evening…I know we will.
Kate says
Love it! Especially the shepherd’s pie part.
Rachel says
You are nearly there, but the dill or refrigerator pickle is wrong. French bread is the most usual to have, but hunks of doorstep granary also good. An old style pub would probably serve Branston pickle and/or piccalilli, or pickled onions or pickled beets, called beetroot over here, and a new style gastro pub would probably make their own chutney. Curried fruit (apple)chutney is nice. The piccalilli goes well with the ham! The apple isn’t working for me, would be better in the chutney.
What season of Downton are you on? We had the Christmas special on the 25th.
Kate says
We’re getting the first episode of Season 4 tonight! I’m going to have to figure out what Branston pickle is. :)
Catherine says
Branston pickle is ubiquitous here. :lots of little pieces of chopped vegetables, in a brown sauce. I like it in a cheddar cheese sandwich. It comes in a jar, with bigger chunks or in a squeezy bottle. And why are you drinking a Mexican beer while watching Downton? A nice ale would be better!
Do you watch Call the Midwife?
Kate says
You know, I tried to tape Call The Midwife and my DVR ate it…must find it again as I hear it is fab!
chris says
They carry Branston pickle at fairway and there happens to be a recipe for them in preppy
Kate says
Fairway! Of course they do…but I bet the recipe in the Preppy Cookbook is even better. :)