British Comfort Foods

Take a trip across the pond without leaving the comfort of your own kitchen using these easy, British-inspired recipes.

Bangers & Mash
Any fully cooked sausages will work in this British dish--we like think chicken and apple sausage pairs nicely with mustard and onions.
Serves 6 | Cost per Serving: $1.50

Ingredients
-3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
-Salt and pepper
-4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
-1 cup milk
-3 tablespoons Dijon mustard -1 1/2 pounds cooked chicken or turkey sausage links
-1 tablespoon vegetable oil
-1 large onion, chopped
-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
-1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Directions
1. Place potatoes in a large pot; cover with water. Add 1 Tbsp. salt. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, return potatoes to pot, and mash with butter. Mix in milk and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.

2. Prick sausages all over with a fork. Warm oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; brown sausages on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate.

3. Add onion to skillet and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Add flour and sauté 1 minute. Slowly stir in broth and cook, whisking, until sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes; season with 1/2 tsp. salt. Return sausages to skillet, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until sausages are warmed through, about 5 minutes. Slice and serve over mashed potatoes, with extra mustard for dipping.

Baked Fish & Chips
A British pub classic gets a healthy update with this simple recipe.
Serves 4 | Cost per Serving: $2.76

Ingredients
-1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (about 4), cut in half lengthwise, then each half cut into 4 wedges Salt
-1 1/2 pounds firm fillets of whitefish such as tilapia (thawed if frozen)
-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
-2 large eggs, beaten
-1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes (from about 3 cups cornflakes)

Directions
1. Arrange two racks in top and bottom thirds of oven and preheat to 450ºF. Line two rimmed baking sheets with heavy-duty foil. Mist one sheet with cooking spray. Top second sheet with a wire rack and mist rack with cooking spray.

2. Arrange potatoes on first baking sheet, coat with a layer of cooking spray and sprinkle with salt. Bake in bottom third of oven until undersides are golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

3. While potatoes are baking, sprinkle both sides of fish with salt, dredge in flour and dip into eggs, letting excess drip off. Coat fish with crushed cornflakes. Place on wire rack on second baking sheet. Mist fish with cooking spray.

4. Turn potatoes and return to bottom third of oven. Place fish in top third of oven. Bake until potatoes are golden on both sides and fish is cooked through, about 15 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Coconut-Curry Beef
Serve our version of a popular British curry with fluffy white rice, or soft flat bread such as naan.
Serves 6 | Cost per Serving: $3.71

Ingredients
-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
-2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch pieces
-Salt
-2 large onions, each cut into 8 wedges
-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
-2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger
-1 12-oz. can light coconut milk
-2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
-1 tablespoon curry powder
-1 teaspoon cayenne
-1 pint cherry tomatoes
Directions
1. In a large skillet, warm oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle beef with salt and brown on all sides, in batches if necessary, about 8 minutes total. Transfer to slow cooker along with onions, garlic and ginger.

2. Whisk together coconut milk, brown sugar, curry powder and cayenne and pour over meat. Cover and cook on low until meat is fork-tender, 4 to 5 hours. Stir in cherry tomatoes and let them warm and soften in stew for 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings and serve.

Arugula Salad Pizza
We like the arugula (which the Brits call "Rocket") to be only slightly wilted for maximum flavor. To accomplish this, sprinkle the punchy green over your pizza when you have just 2 or 3 minutes left on the cook time-the result will be simply delicious.
Serves 4 | Cost per Serving: $3.26

Ingredients
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-10 ounce button mushrooms, sliced
-Salt
-1 pound frozen pizza dough, thawed
-8 ounces part-skim mozzarella, shredded
-4 cups baby arugula
-2 teaspoons lemon juice
-1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 475ºF. Warm 1 Tbsp. oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, sprinkle with salt and sauté until mushrooms release their liquid and are lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.

2. Press and stretch dough evenly to cover a 15-inch round perforated pizza pan. Scatter mushrooms over dough; sprinkle cheese on top. Bake until underside is golden and cheese is bubbling, about 15 minutes.

3. Toss arugula with remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil, lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. salt. Arrange greens on top of pizza. Scatter tomatoes over greens. Return pizza to oven to wilt arugula, 2 to 3 minutes. Slice and serve.
Related: Forget takeout! 12 Easy Homemade Pizza Recipes

Banana Boat
For a bit of crunch, add chopped salted peanuts to the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Or, add drizzeled caramel so it resembles the popular British dessert Banoffee Pie.
Serves 4 | Cost per Serving: $0.53

Ingredients
-4 small bananas
-1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
-1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300ºF. Slit each banana lengthwise through 1 side of peel, taking care to avoid cutting all the way through banana. Stuff each slit with chocolate chips and marshmallows.

2. Wrap each banana in aluminum foil, place upright on a baking sheet and bake until chocolate and marshmallows have melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Unwrap and serve immediately.

Related: You can make dessert every night with our collection of 25 Easy Cookie Recipes.