What is a ploughman's lunch?

A cold British pub plate of crusty bread, butter, cheese, and pickle, usually with ham, a hard-boiled egg, salad, and apple. You assemble it — there is nothing to cook except the egg.

What is in a traditional ploughman's lunch?

Bread, butter, a wedge of cheddar, and pickle or chutney are the core. Most pub plates also add ham, pickled onions, a hard-boiled egg, and apple or celery.

What cheese goes on a ploughman's?

Farmhouse or mature cheddar is the standard. A second wedge of Stilton, Red Leicester, or a soft cheese is common when you are feeding more than one person.

What pickle is used in a ploughman's lunch?

Branston pickle is the jar most British pubs use. Piccalilli, onion chutney, or any chunky pickle works. Pickled onions sit beside it, not instead of it.

Can you make a ploughman's without ham?

Yes. Bread, cheddar, pickle, egg, and apple is a complete plate. Extra cheese or a slice of pork pie covers the ham if you want more to eat.

Ploughman's Lunch Recipe — Classic British Pub Plate

Name: Ploughman's Lunch
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 crusty baguette or cob loaf (sliced); 12 oz farmhouse cheddar (wedge); 8 oz thick-cut ham; 4 oz Branston pickle or chutney; 2 hard-boiled eggs (halved); Butter; Mixed salad leaves; Cherry tomatoes; Cucumber slices; Pickled onions; Apple (sliced)

Spoon Simple

Ploughman's Lunch

A pub platter of crusty bread, farmhouse cheddar, pickle, ham, and salad. Simple, honest, and the perfect accompaniment to a pint.

Prep 15 min

Cook 0 min

Total 15 min

Serves 4

Lunch·British·Easy

Ingredients

Step 1 — Assemble the platter

1 crusty baguette or cob loaf (sliced)
12 oz farmhouse cheddar (wedge)
8 oz thick-cut ham
4 oz Branston pickle or chutney
2 hard-boiled eggs (halved)
Butter
Mixed salad leaves
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumber slices
Pickled onions
Apple (sliced)

Instructions

1
Arrange the platter
Slice bread and butter if desired. Arrange cheese, ham, eggs, pickle, salad, tomatoes, cucumber, pickled onions, and apple on a large wooden board.
2
Serve
Let diners assemble their own bites. Serve with ale or cider.

Nutrition per serving: 520 cal · 28g protein · 38g carbs · 28g fat · 4g fiber

For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Verify ingredients for allergens, cooking times, and safe internal temperatures before serving.

About this recipe

A ploughman's lunch is the cold British pub plate of crusty bread, cheese, butter, and pickle. Farm workers ate bread and cheese at midday long before the name existed; the Cheese Bureau put "ploughman's lunch" on pub menus in the 1960s to sell more cheese after wartime rationing. Ham, a hard-boiled egg, and apple are the usual extras — the plate is assembled, not cooked.