Britain's 45 greatest dishes revealed – but fish and chips is missing from the list
A new ranking of Britain's 45 greatest dishes includes everything from the Full English breakfast to obscure regional specialities. But fish and chips is conspicuous by its absence, while the humble fish finger sandwich makes the top 20.
Fish and chips has failed to make a list of Britain's 45 greatest dishes, despite being one of the country's most recognisable traditional meals.
The surprising omission comes in a new ranking of British food favourites which includes everything from Yorkshire pudding and Cornish pasties to Lancashire hotpot, Welsh rarebit and haggis.
Even the humble fish finger sandwich makes the list, finishing in 17th place, while more obscure regional specialities including stargazy pie, Sussex pond pudding and Shropshire's fidget pie also feature.
But there is no place for fish and chips, the traditional chippy tea that has been a staple of British life for generations.
The research, commissioned by butter brand Lurpak to celebrate its 125th anniversary, examined Britain's changing food tastes and the traditional dishes that have stood the test of time.
It crowned the Full English breakfast Britain's greatest dish, with 58% of respondents selecting it, ahead of the Sunday roast on 52%.
Yorkshire pudding finished third with 50%, followed by sausage and mash (43%), shepherd's pie (39%) and the Cornish pasty (36%).
The survey findings do not explain why fish and chips is absent, or whether it was included among the dishes respondents were asked to consider.
Regional favourites produce some surprising results
Beyond the familiar dishes at the top of the ranking, the list reveals how some of Britain's best-known regional specialities compare.
Lancashire hotpot finishes 20th with 22%, just ahead of Scotland's haggis, neeps and tatties in 22nd place on 19%.
Welsh rarebit comes 26th, Eccles cakes 28th and Manchester tart 31st.
Scotland's Arbroath smokies and Cullen skink both receive 6%, while North East favourites stottie bread and Craster kippers finish 36th and 44th respectively.
At the bottom of the list is fidget pie, a traditional Shropshire dish made with pork, apples and onions, which received just 2%.
Britain's 45 greatest dishes – the full ranking
- Full English breakfast – 58%
- Sunday roast – 52%
- Yorkshire pudding – 50%
- Sausage and mash – 43%
- Shepherd's pie – 39%
- Cornish pasty – 36%
- Apple crumble – 35%
- Toad in the hole – 33%
- Victoria sponge cake – 32%
- Scones – 28%
- Mince pies – 28%
- Sticky toffee pudding – 28%
- Shortbread – 25%
- Bakewell tart – 24%
- Beef Wellington – 24%
- Bread and butter pudding – 23%
- Fish finger sandwich – 23%
- Ploughman's lunch – 23%
- Bubble and squeak – 22%
- Lancashire hotpot – 22%
- Buttered crumpets – 19%
- Haggis, neeps and tatties – 19%
- Pie, mash and liquor – 17%
- Fish pie – 16%
- Treacle sponge – 16%
- Welsh rarebit – 16%
- Millionaire's shortbread – 15%
- Eccles cakes – 14%
- Welsh cakes – 14%
- Leek and potato soup – 12%
- Manchester tart – 8%
- Pease pudding – 8%
- Parkin – 7%
- Arbroath smokie – 6%
- Cullen skink – 6%
- Stottie bread – 5%
- Bara brith – 5%
- Spice bag – 5%
- Potted shrimp – 4%
- Champ – 4%
- Stargazy pie – 4%
- Gypsy tart – 3%
- Sussex pond pudding – 3%
- Craster kippers – 3%
- Fidget pie – 2%
Traditional British food remains a source of regional pride
The research found that 43% of people believe their hometown or city has a dish it is famous for, with 87% of those respondents saying it makes them proud of where they come from.
Comfort remains central to the popularity of British food, with 55% saying it is what they love most about traditional home-cooked dishes.
More than a third (37%) said classic meals reminded them of childhood, while 81% believed British home cooking could rank among the best in the world.
However, traditional recipes are increasingly being adapted to suit changing tastes.
More than eight in ten respondents (81%) said they sometimes added extra ingredients or flavours to classic British dishes, while 72% enjoyed giving them an international twist.
Among the more unusual combinations people reported trying were Yorkshire pudding burrito wraps, Victoria sponge with matcha buttercream and kimchi served alongside a Sunday roast.
TV chef Simon Rimmer, who is supporting a Lurpak competition celebrating inventive home cooking, said there was nothing wrong with adapting traditional recipes.
"You respect what made a dish great in the first place, then you're brave enough to put a bit of yourself into it," he said.
Four in ten people surveyed believe the dishes regarded as British classics will look completely different in another 125 years.