We celebrate Yorkshire Pudding Day on 4th February by recounting where the county’s best puddings can be found.
The Crooked Billet
This iconic spot is so famous for its puddings that it has its own eating challenge. Come hungry if you want to tackle the 100% Yorkshire Pudding Challenge. Start off with a homemade Yorkshire covered in meat and onion gravy; then tuck into the pub’s signature giant Yorkshire pudding – stuffed full of mashed potatoes, gravy, and a choice of fillings: sausages, roast meat, steak and kidney, and nut roast; and finish the whole thing off with another Yorkshire, filled with vanilla ice cream and a sticky toffee sauce. For those who aren’t up to the challenge, each of these menu options are available individually, as well as a range of other pub roast favourites.
The York Roast Co
If you’re willing to travel a bit further afield, York Roast Co is well worth a visit. Yorkshire pud fans will be delighted with the Yorkshire pudding meal, which contains a giant Yorkshire, filled with your choice of meat (or a vegetarian option) as well as roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and your choice of sauce. The restaurant also has its own version of the ever-popular Yorkshire pudding wrap, stuffed full of your choice of meat, roast vegetables, stuffing, gravy, and sauce.
Blues Bar
Blues Bar in Harrogate is known for its Yorkshire take on the traditional Spanish tapas: small plates designed to be shared among multiple people. As you can imagine the Yorkshire pudding is a feature.
Served with stockpot beef dripping gravy, horseradish mashed potato, and shoestring fries, the 36-hour slow-pulled beef is definitely the option to go for, though there’s also an excellent vegetarian option featuring a chickpea and fennel patty available for those who’d prefer a meat-free take.
Wapentake
What’s better than a Yorkshire pudding? Two! That’s what you’ll find at Wapentake on Kirkgate, with a burger sandwiched between them. Its signature Yorkshire pudding burger features a locally sourced beef burger patty or chicken fillet, and is what made a name for the pub. There’s also a vegan version called It’ll Be Reyt, featuring vegan bacon and vegan cheese as well. Finally, if breakfast is more your style, you should definitely check out the Breakie puds!
Yorkshire Wrap Company
Of course, no list of Yorkshire pudding options would be complete without mentioning Kirkgate market’s Yorkshire Wrap Company. The star here is absolutely the overnight slow roast beef wrap, complete with red cabbage, fried onion, and homemade gravy, wrapped in a delicious freshly made Yorkshire pudding wrap, and served with homemade horseradish sauce.
Have a go at home!
Ingredients
- 140g (1 cup) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 4 large eggs
- 200ml (3/4 cup) milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (or beef drippings for a traditional touch)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 220°C.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Create a well in the centre and crack in the eggs. Gradually add the milk while whisking, to form a smooth batter. Make sure the mixture is lump-free and has the consistency of double cream.
- Let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes at room temperature. This step helps the batter rise better when cooked.
- Place a muffin tin in the oven to heat up. Add about 1 tsp of oil or beef drippings to each hole. When the oil is smoking hot (this usually takes about 10 minutes), remove the tin from the oven carefully.
- Quickly pour the rested batter into each muffin hole, filling them about halfway.
- Immediately return the tin to the hot oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the puddings have risen and are golden brown. Avoid opening the oven door during baking to prevent them from deflating.
Tips
- The key to great Yorkshire puddings is very hot oil and a quick, smooth batter.
- Don’t overfill the holes, as they need room to rise.
- For extra crispy edges, use beef dripping instead of vegetable oil for a traditional flavour.
