The Ploughman’s Lunch or Traditional English Snack Plate

The Ploughman’s Lunch, aka Ploughman’s, is the UK version of the Snacky Lunch. What was once a laborer’s humble meal now looks like a very posh cheese and meat platter. Make your own at home for less!

Lunch may be part of the name, but this is one of the best quick dinners to make for a casual evening. Commonly served at local pubs in the UK, it’s a great snack plate to make and serve at home. With good quality bread, strong cheeses, and homemade English pickle, its robust flavors are a perfect combination for an easy dinner, a perfect meal without a lot of work.

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You’re looking for an easy, no-cook meal but you want it to feel a little special. You’re tired of the same old dinner options, but you need a quick meal that satisfies. You long for simple meals with little fuss — without resorting to cans and boxed mixes.

Well, any day of the week, I’d say that the fancy-pants-though-not-difficult-at-all meat and cheese boards that have been filling your instagram feed for a couple years now (aka the Snacky Lunch) is a go-to solution. Not only does this answer your quick fix dilemma, but it also allows you to take a meal on the go, serve a crowd, and even appease a little wanderlust at the same time.

Wanderlust? Absolutely! Think about it. A Mezze platter lets your tastebuds explore the Mediterranean while the traditional Charcuterie board takes you to France and the antipasto plate to Italy. The Ploughman’s Lunch? Why it’s a quick ticket to jolly old England, where its a traditional pub meal.

Pretty much every culture has had its own version of the snack plate, long before Lunchables were ever devised. And England’s version is quite tasty, indeed. 

In our travels in the UK, many a pub menu featured some version of the Ploughman’s Lunch. It is quick to assemble and easy to share, making it a great no-cook option for your own meals at home. And because this is the 21st century, you can play with the bread to meat to cheese to vegetable/fruit ratio as much as you like.

Why Make This

It’s easy. A ploughman’s lunch comes together in minutes, as welcome on a warm summer day as it is by the fire in winter when you just want to settle in and be cozy.

It’s delicious. Mix and match your favorite English cheese with fresh bread, seasonal produce, and some pickle, and you’re set for a very tasty meal.

It’s cheap. Assembling a ploughman’s lunch at home is a super cheap option as you can serve a little bit of this and a little bit of that, emptying the cheese and meat drawer and generally shopping your kitchen to use what you have.

Ingredients

I’ve adapted this ingredients list to work best for American kitchens and the local grocery store as its hard to find some things that are ubiquitous in the UK, like a slice of pork pie or Scotch eggs. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

pickled onions – These are easy to find across the pond, but expensive here in the States. I make a quick version at home using sliced white or red onion, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper

hard-boiled eggs – These are easy to cook at home or you can buy them all ready to go at the store. Got extra huevos? Check out our 14 Recipes to Use Hard Boiled Eggs!

sliced ham or other favorite cold meats – If you can find a pork pie or Scotch egg, so much the better!

your favorite type of cheese – such as Cheddar cheese, Stilton, or Wensleydale. If your store has a cheese counter, ask what classic cheese they’ve imported from the UK. I found Irish cheddar (not the same, but still good!) at ALDI. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to develop.

bread or bread rolls – a thick wedge of crusty bread is iconic, but you can use slices or rolls.

seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables – such as cherry tomatoes, peppery radishes, celery, or whatever you like to munch on.

cornichons – these are small cucumber pickles in America

English pickle – This is a type of savory sweet chutney, classic British food. You can buy a jar of Branston pickle or other ploughman’s pickle at import shops or make your own English pickle, which is what I do.

butter – Butter is a great accompaniment to the bread but also to the radishes, cornichons, and pickle.

optional – mustard, especially English mustard, to go with the meats.

Instructions

Here’s how to assemble this classic English pub meal:

• In a small bowl, place the onion slices. Pour over the vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow to sit to allow the onion to marinade. This also removes some of the bitterness and heat from the onions.
• Meanwhile, divide the eggs, ham, cheese, bread, fruit, and cucumber pickles among four platters, boards, or dinner plates. 
• Divide the English pickle into four small dishes or ramekins. Place a ramekin and a pat of butter on each plate.
• Divide the pickled onions among the four plates and serve immediately.

This is great for a Lunchtime Meal Prep! If you won’t eat it in a few hours, consider packing the bread separately from the other elements.

FAQ

More Great Platters to Make

This post was originally published on July 18, 2018. It has been updated for content and clarity.