Toad in the hole, corned beef hash, and bubble and squeak are among the classic kitchen British kitchen staples which have stood the test of time.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed the top 30 nostalgic dishes people prepared in homes across the UK, including liver and onions (28 per cent), bread and butter pudding (33 per cent), and Welsh rarebit (26 per cent).
Other dishes making their way to the dinner table are home-made scotch eggs (24 per cent), suet dumplings (20 per cent), and Lancashire hot pot (19 per cent).
It also emerged 63 per cent confirmed the retro recipes they serve up to loved ones have been passed down to them through the generations, signifying the key role they still play in family mealtimes.
With 54 per cent learning them from their parents and 24 per cent from their grandparents.
In a bid to put traditional dishes to the test, children’s TV legend Angellica Bell teamed up with Red Tractor to host an intergenerational cook-off, featuring a selection of family recipes handed down through the generations.
Three families joined the Celebrity MasterChef winner and former CBBC presenter to recreate their favourite nostalgic dishes and explore why they are so important to them.
Recipes included meatballs and spaghetti prepared by Nessie with her two daughters, Coco and Zaza, and son, Kaspar.
A hearty rhubarb crumble was created by Colette and her daughters, Amy and Chloe, and a delicious Chinese-style chicken noodle recipe was prepared by Tony and his son, Benjamin.
The cook-along was planned by the food assurance scheme in honour of its 25-year anniversary, celebrating the hard work of British farmers and growers in meeting the high standards that ensure the safety and traceability of food produced in the UK.
Angellica Bell said: “I have great memories of cooking with my grandmother when I was a little girl and that’s why I believe spending quality time with loved ones in the kitchen is precious.
“It was fantastic to meet some amazing families and discuss the nostalgic dishes that have been handed down through generations in their households, hearing how important it is to them to keep those traditions alive.
“Creating recipes with ingredients that I know are safe, traceable, and British, was the perfect way to remind people about the importance of keeping this front of mind when shopping in supermarkets.”
Richard Cattell, spokesperson for Red Tractor, which has also created an interactive AI recipe generator tool to encourage budding chefs to create nostalgic recipes for their families said: “To mark this milestone anniversary we wanted to explore how nostalgia and cooking can really bring families together.
“It was fascinating to find out which traditional British dishes have stood the test of time, as well as seeing the unique and personal touches families bring to those recipes in the modern day.
“Angellica was the perfect host for the event – as well as it being 25 years since she first started as a children’s TV presenter, she is also passionate about cooking and encouraging children to get involved too.
“We hope to inspire others to get together with loved ones and prepare their own nostalgic dishes.”
The study found that over two thirds (68 per cent) of adults have used specific methods to try and keep traditional recipes alive.
For example, cooking their favourites at big family gatherings, writing recipes down in notebooks or cookbooks, or teaching their own children how to make nostalgic dishes.
Overall, 87 per cent agreed it’s important to keep traditional British recipes alive, according to the OnePoll.com data.
And it seems they are living up to this promise – with over a third (35 per cent) cooking classic dishes at least a few times every week.
A contributing factor to this may be the importance placed on buying British produce and supporting British farmers – 75 per cent confirmed they take this into account each time they shop for their family.
Richard Cattell added: “Nostalgic dishes may not be considered as trendy as they once were, but it doesn’t mean we should let important aspects of our heritage fade from the kitchen completely.
“It’s heart warming and reassuring to see that so many families agree – and are keeping our nation’s favourite classic dishes alive by sharing recipes through the generations and creating lasting memories together in the kitchen.
“With a dash of nostalgia and a big dollop of comfort – we can keep homegrown produce and dishes at the heart of our family homes, ensuring the safety and traceability of ingredients while supporting British farmers.”
TOP 30 CLASSIC DISHES STILL BEING SERVED UP AT HOME
- Roast dinner (67 per cent)
- Spaghetti Bolognese (63 per cent)
- Bangers and mash (59 per cent)
- Fish and Chips (58 per cent)
- Cottage Pie (55 per cent)
- Shepherd’s Pie (52 per cent)
- Victoria Sponge Cake (45 per cent)
- Toad in the Hole (39 per cent)
- Bread and Butter Pudding (33 per cent)
- Corned Beef Hash (32 per cent)
- Ploughman’s Lunch (32 per cent)
- Rhubarb Crumble (32 per cent)
- Lemon Drizzle Cake (30 per cent)
- Bubble and Squeak (30 per cent)
- Liver and Onions (28 per cent)
- Welsh Rarebit (26 per cent)
- Scotch Eggs (24 per cent)
- Steak and Kidney Pie (21 per cent)
- Suet Dumplings (20 per cent)
- Eton Mess (19 per cent)
- Lancashire Hotpot (19 per cent)
- Treacle Sponge Pudding (17 per cent)
- Biryani (16 per cent)
- Jam Roly-Poly (16 per cent)
- Coronation Chicken (15 per cent)
- Cornish Pasty (traditional recipe) (15 per cent)
- Jollof rice (14 per cent)
- Pork pies (11 per cent)
- Spotted Dick (11 per cent)
- Oxtail Stew (10 per cent)