Boards Around the World British Ploughman's Board
Around the World
British Ploughman's Board
The English pub lunch turned into a board: good cheese, pork pie, crusty bread and a row of sharp pickles.
- Serves
- 6–8
- Board
- 14–16 inch
- Prep
- 15–20 min
- Cost
- $35–$55
- Level
- Beginner
Open this board in the Board Builder Get amounts for your own guest count, free.
What's on the board
Meat
- Honey-glazed ham
- Mini pork pies
Condiments
- Branston pickle
- Caramelized onion chutney
- Whole-grain mustard
- Butter
Bread & crackers
- Crusty white roll
- Oatcakes
- Water biscuits
Amounts and prices for each item are in the book, or open the board in the Board Builder for amounts sized to your guest count.
Why it works
A ploughman's is built on contrast: rich cheese and pastry against sharp, vinegary pickles. Mature Cheddar is the center of it all, and Branston pickle, sweet, tangy and chunky, is its classic partner. Blue Stilton brings salt and tang, and Red Leicester is the mellow, nutty one for guests who want something gentler.
Pork pie and thick-cut ham need mustard and chutney to cut the fat, so those sit right beside them. Malt-vinegar pickled onions, gherkins, crisp apple and celery refresh the palate between bites, and walnuts are the traditional match for Stilton.
Timeline
- 15 min beforeTake out the cheeses and cut the Cheddar into wedges.
- 10 min beforeSlice the apple and drain the pickled onions and gherkins.
- 8 min beforeFill ramekins with pickle, chutney, mustard and butter.
- 5 min beforeArrange the bread, oatcakes and water biscuits.
- Serving timeAdd the ham and pork pies, tuck in watercress and serve.
The seven-step placement plan (what goes where, and why) is in the book.
New book
Build it exactly, with the new book
This board's exact shopping list with amounts and prices, the prep countdown, all seven placement steps, five swaps and five upgrades are in Charcuterie Lab: Around the World in 16 Boards, with 15 more international boards.
Questions
Where can I buy Branston pickle and pork pies in the US?
Branston pickle is sold in the international aisle of many large grocery stores, at British import shops and online. Mini pork pies are harder to find; try a British shop or bakery, or use halved Scotch eggs instead.
What is a ploughman's lunch?
A British pub plate of cheese, bread, pickle and usually ham or pork pie. Farmworkers ate bread and cheese for centuries, but the name itself was popularized by cheese marketing in the 1950s and '60s.
What should I drink with it?
An English bitter or pale ale is the pub choice, and dry cider works well too. Pour a small glass of tawny port for the Stilton.
Can I use a different blue cheese instead of Stilton?
Yes. Gorgonzola Dolce is milder and creamier, which suits guests who are new to blue cheese.
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