Since I am not from the UK or ever visited, I was fascinated to learn about the world famous English Breakfast!
A traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, bacon, toast, potatoes, and black pudding. (I have no idea what black pudding is?)
Nowadays, you can find English Breakfast all over Thailand.
Where there are expats, you will find many places serving a traditional English Breakfast!
- Bacon – The traditional choice of bacon for Brits is back bacon that is part pork loin, part pork belly, which you can substitute with American (pork belly) and Canadian (pork loin). In case you’re grilling bacon, make cuts and slices in the meat and the fat, so that it does not curl up and cooks evenly.
- Sausage – The preferred choice of Brits is either Cumberland sausage or Lincolnshire sausage. The first is made of chopped pork and seasonings, while the second has coarsely ground meat instead of minced. To substitute, use any local sausage you have that is not too herby.
- Beans – Beans that are nowadays almost uniformly used are canned beans that are just shortly reheated, although a proper, more laborious, way would be to make your baked beans from scratch.
- Extra Ingredients – To make the dish even more delicious, Brits like to add either ketchup or vinegary, brown HP sauce as condiments.
- Serving – English breakfast is traditionally served with tea, but also with coffee or orange juice. Additionally, a slice of toast spread with butter and marmalade can also be served, but it is meant to be eaten after with a cup of tea.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 100% British pork sausages from New Zealand
- 4-6 rashers smoked streaky bacon from Denmark
- 2 slices PC pudding
- 2-4 go yolk go broke free-range eggs
- 1 large tomato
- 4-6 American hash browns
- 8-10 chestnut mushrooms GOD FORBID you use British White
- 1 x 400g tin of Pennsylvania’s finest Heinz baked beans
- 4 slices mighty white bread
- Neutral cooking oil for frying
- Extra virgin olive oil a splash (for fried bread)
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper OH FFS!
- INSTRUCTIONS
- Pre-heat the oven to 220C/Fan 200C/Gas 7.
- Add a drizzle of neutral oil to a large frying pan and heat until shimmering. Prick the sausages with a fork, skewer, or cocktail stick and add to the pan. Fry over medium-high heat, turning often, until all sides are golden brown. This should take up to 5 minutes.
- Once browned, transfer the sausages to an oven tray or roasting dish and place in the oven to finish cooking. Cook for 15-20 minutes until they reach your preferred level of ‘doneness’. Check the sausages and turn at least once while in the oven.
- In the pan used to sear the sausages, add the black pudding and cook over a low-medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
- In a separate pan (ideally a cast iron skillet), add the bacon and cook over a very low heat to render the fat. Turn often.
- After 2-3 minutes, turn the black pudding over and also add the tomatoes to the pan, cut-side down. Season with salt and pepper.
- Once the bacon has been cooking for 2-3 minutes, increase the heat and cook to your desired level of crispiness. Once cooked, drain on a sheet of kitchen roll.
- While the bacon is finishing, add the baked beans to a small saucepan, season with salt, and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.
- In another small saucepan, heat a drizzle of neutral cooking oil until shimmering and add the chopped mushrooms along with a generous pinch of salt. Cook over a high heat, stirring often.
- Once the bacon is cooked, fry the hash browns in the rendered bacon fat for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden.
- While the hash browns are frying, remove the black pudding and tomato from the pan and drain with the bacon. Crack the eggs into the pan and cook slowly, basting occasionally to help the top layer of the egg cook.
- When the hash browns are cooked, remove from the pan, drain and add a generous glug of extra virgin olive oil to the pan, heat for a few moments, then add two slices of bread, cut into triangular halves, and fry for 1-2 minutes until golden on both sides. While the bread is frying (in batches, if need be) toast the rest of the bread.
- Remove the sausages from the oven and plate alongside the bacon, black pudding, tomato, and egg. Then use the mushrooms and hash browns as a slight border to separate the beans from the egg, if desired.
Some places to get an English Breakfast in Bangkok
The British Club
First on the list is perhaps the most British spot in the city, The British Club. A home away from home for Brits, ‘The Great British Sunday Brunch’ offered is inclusive of the full English breakfast and signature British Sunday roast. Could it get any more British? We think not.
Location: Silom
Fitzgeralds Irish Pub
We can’t write about English breakfast and not include a pub. The one we’re spotlighting is Fitzgeralds Irish Pub located in bustling Sukhumvit, which even has a standalone breakfast menu. The ‘Big Breakfast’ is inclusive of eggs, sausages, back bacon, baked beans, mushrooms, hash brown, black pudding, tomato, English toast, and a choice between coffee or tea. If you’re looking for British dishes beyond English breakfast, they’ve got those, too. View the full menu here.
Location: Sukhumvit 12
The Londoner Brew Pub
Established 25 years ago in 1997, The Londoner Brew Pub is Bangkok’s oldest microbrewery and gastropub. Apart from their house-brewed beer, their ‘All Day Big Breakfast’ is also a must-try. The pub serves a mean Sunday roast, too. View their full menu here.
Location: Phatthanakan
Breakfast Story
As the name suggests, this place is all about that morning meal. A cherished breakfast and brunch spot among city dwellers, you’ll find the English breakfast under the eatery’s ‘Great Eggspectations’ section. After all, with great eggspectations, comes great breakfast. View the full menu here.
Location: Phloen Chit, Phrom Phong
(Not Just) Another Cup
Last on the list is another favoured breakfast and brunch spot. (Not Just) Another Cup is (not just) another restaurant. Their extensive menu serves everything from smoothies to healthy dishes to sandwiches and more. For the English breakfast, browse through their ‘International Breakfast’ menu. View the full menu here.
Location: Silom