A
Curious Bite
Snacks
and Savouries from England’s Past
Do you prefer to end your dinner with a sweet, be it a pudding, ice cream, a slice of pie, or a square of chocolate alongside a cup of coffee? Or are you more a snacks and savouries kind of diner who reaches for cheese, biscuits, and a glass of port? I fall mostly into the latter category, but there is a third option. One that reached the zenith of its popularity during Victorian and Edwardian times. I give you…. THE SAVOURY!
A once-essential flourish at the end of a formal English dinner, a savoury is not quite a starter, not exactly a main course, and certainly not a dessert. Instead, it was a highly spiced morsel saved after the pudding, an eccentric little encore that left guests with a lingering tingle on the tongue and a revived appetite for conversation and booze.
I’m not sure why these fabulously tasty snacks and savouries fell out of favour. Maybe they were too much trouble. Maybe formal dinners have grown shorter. Or maybe they’ve simply shifted position on the menu, have become canapes, hors d’oeuvres, and buffet starters. As long as we don’t lose sight of the salty, fishy, cheesy, hot, or otherwise highly spiced little treats, I don’t really mind, even if serving them at the end of formal dinner might bring mack memories of a grander age.
Devilled Whitebait © CBCK-Christine | Getty Images canva.comTraditionally, savouries were quick to prepare and bold in flavour. Recipes were designed to be swift, spicy, and ever so slightly scandalous. Anchovies featured heavily, as did mustard, oysters, cheese, dried fruit, and devilled sauce. Tiny palate cleansers to wake you from the dinner-induced food coma.
You’re bound to be familiar with some of the recipes in this list, but there are plenty more to explore. I’ve just found a marvellous book from the Victorian period - Savouries a la Mode - by Mrs. de Salis and I can’t wait to try out some of her collected treats.
Of course, you’re not restricted to serving them at the end of dinner, either. These snacks and savouries make great additions to a finger buffet, can be served as light starters to a meal or dinner party, or even - the way I most often have them - as a very light lunch or snack between meals.
Traditional English Snacks and Savouries
Feeling intrigued? Here’s a short list to explore (and perhaps revive at your next dinner party):
- Devilled Kidneys – Lamb’s kidneys seared with mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne.
- Angels on Horseback - Oysters wrapped in streaky bacon, grilled until crisp.
- Mushroom Toast - Button mushrooms sautéed with garlic and sherry, piled high on buttered bread.
- Scotch Woodcock - Scrambled eggs on anchovy toast. An unexpected delight!
- Devils on Horseback - Prunes wrapped in bacon - chewy, sweet, and salty.
- Gentlemen’s Relish on Toast - the ultimate snack when only something salty and fishy will do. Great on oatcakes, too.
- Devilled Whitebait - Tiny fish, deep-fried and highly spiced… often the start to a grand night out to our Victorian ancestors.
- Cheese and Ale - This doesn’t just sound totally English, it’s also a treat that can be adapted to suit your mood. How many dishes can put you to sleep, or wake you up?
- Devilled Almonds - Salty and tongue-tingling, these make a great addition to a buffet or simply as a side dish with drinks.
Tasty Mushroom Toast © Anna-Shepulova | Getty Images canva.comSo, next time you find yourself yearning for something a little unusual at the end of a meal, why not resurrect one of these fabulously tasty snacks and savouries? It’s a quirky slice of English history - and a jolly good bite, too.
How do you keep your recipes?
Are you a passionate cook or baker with a treasure trove of old, beloved recipes scattered around your kitchen? Let me help you organise and preserve your culinary heritage in style.
These elegantly designed blank recipe notebooks don't take up much room, but with their user-friendly layout and durable design, they offer plenty of space for your recipe collection. This recipe keeper notebook is your perfect kitchen companion. And filled with their favourite recipes it makes a great gift for children heading to college - or even as a wedding gift.
Essentially England uses affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something through a link on this site, we may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you).
