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This full English breakfast will transport you right into the coziest pub in London. This traditional English breakfast has everything the Brits use in their hearty breakfast: back bacon, sausage, runny eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, the tastiest baked beans, and blood pudding. You simply cannot go wrong with this for breakfast. Cheers!
So Long, London: Full English Breakfast at Home
I went to London for the very first time in 2017 and I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the city. I cannot even begin to explain the heart-bursting feeling I get whenever I think about London. There is something about the environment, atmosphere, and the people there that really steal my heart.
Of course, since it was my first trip to England, everyone told me that I 1. must have a full English breakfast, 2. do Sunday roast, and 3. have afternoon tea. You bet I did all three of those! Of all three of those on the list, the one I have brought home to the States is I often make this full English breakfast on the weekend because it has a little bit of everything and it’s so hearty! I love dipping my toast into the runny egg yolk and using it as a vessel to scoop the sweet and tangy beans.
Breaking it Down
Here is the full breakdown of what goes into the traditional English breakfast.
- Sausages – usually 2 generous sausage links.
- Back bacon – this is very different than the traditional bacon we have here in the United States. It kind of reminds me of Canadian bacon where it’s like a thicker round slice of ham.
- Eggs – runny yolk and all!
- Beans – oof, their beans are so good. They aren’t like American baked beans though so definitely get the Heinz!
- Tomatoes – not cherry or grape. Just regular beefy tomatoes.
- Mushrooms – brown or cremini or mini portobellos.
- Blood pudding – you’re not the only one that isn’t a fan, but for all intents and purposes, I had to include it because this is traditional. It is also known here in the United States as blood sausage in case you ask for blood pudding and they stare at you like you just spoke to them in Mandarin.
- Toast – make it extra thick and crusty for dipping.
If you’ve never been to England before or if you’re missing the traditional English breakfast, there it is in all its glory!
Serving Suggestions
We all know tea is the best accompaniment to a full English breakfast, but coffee is just as lovely. Or, you know, a gin and tonic or Pimm’s cup to start the day, haha
Full English Breakfast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 slices back bacon, cooked to your desired level of doneness
- 2 fresh pork sausage links
- 14.1 ounce (400 g) can of English Heinz Baked Beans
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large slices of tomatoes
- ⅔ cup (64 g) sliced mushrooms
- Blood pudding, optional
Instructions
- In a cast iron skillet, cook back bacon to your desired level of doneness. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place on a plate with a paper towel to drain. Set aside.
- In the same skillet over medium-high heat, cook pork sausages until completely cooked through. You may cook the blood pudding at the same time if you are using it. Once all cooked through, remove from the skillet and set on the plate with the bacon.
- Cook the sliced mushrooms over medium-high heat until softened and tender. Add the tomato slices in while mushrooms are cooking. Once the mushrooms and tomatoes are done cooking, place on the plate with the bacon and sausages.
- Add the baked beans to the skillet and let simmer on medium-low heat until the mixture is slightly thicker and darker, about 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs on top of the beans and cook through to desired doneness, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add everything (bacon, sausages, blood pudding, mushrooms, and tomatoes) back to skillet then serve with toast!
Nutrition
Photographs by Eat Love Eat
Julie, I must admit you are correct in saying this is just half of a traditional British breakfast, but regardless of that, I must say it made my mouth water ! Thanks for posting.
Yes, you can call this a traditional English breakfast, it only falls slightly short on being a full English fry-up. My local restaurant (in England) serves a a range of breakfasts culminating with the all encompassing ‘Belly Buster’ and also offer a mix and match of individual ingredients. The benefit of a home cooked full English is that you can use your favourite sausage or bacon (often too salty in restaurants). I must admit that I like to have tinned tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes.
Wait until you turn 50! Nothing good about getting older from what I have seen.
it’s called a fry up! if you want it really traditional, you’re gonna want black pudding, fried tomatoes, and fried mushrooms. but you’re not far off! love your recipes.
Thank you!