Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka
Sunday Roast
Sunday Roast is not just for Sundays at GlenMyu Estate.
Our guests are able to order this traditional British dish when they stay at our hotel in the beautiful Sri Lankan Hill Country.
Sunday Roast - a part of British heritage.
We would consider he British love of a Sunday Roast a part of the national identity. At GlenMyu Estate. Beragala, Sri Lanka, we have found to be popular with our guests whatever the day of the week.
It’s not just the ex-pats living in Sri Lanka and those visitors from the UK that love our Roast Chicken Dinner. We have found that visitors from all parts of Europe and local Sri Lankans are keen to sample this traditional dish.
Yorkshire Pudding is something that not many people have sampled and once they do there is no turning back.
Roast beef is eaten as the main meat accompanying the Traditional Sunday Roast.
In the 18th Century the Roast Beef dinner was eaten so often that even the French started calling Englishmen “rosbifs”. It is heard often at England v France rugby matches at Twickenham Stadium.
The Sunday roast is as much a tradition today in the UK as it was a few hundred years ago. It has even made its’ way from the family dinner table to pubs and other days of the week.
What is a Traditional Sunday Roast?
In essence, it is the main Sunday meal. Sunday roast is a British meal that normally has roast beef (or Chicken, Lamb, Pork or Nutloaf) as the main contingent. It also includes a series of other tasty products and sauces, served in the same plate, to celebrate Sunday together with loved ones. There is also a variation of the format on important occasions, such as Christmas and special family gatherings. Traditionally, a Sunday Roast is eaten around 3pm. However, many people eat Sunday meals around dinner time, especially if they have had a large traditional English breakfast with bacon, eggs and other delicacies which are usually reserved for the weekend. The preparation of the Sunday roast can be long and laborious process. The meat can be roasted for several hours in advance of the meal, depending upon what cut it is and how the diners like their meal.
What does a Sunday Roast consist of?
What does Sunday roast normally consist of?
Around the UK, the contents will vary a little however the key items in additional to the meat or poultry are:
Roasted vegetables
Primarily carrots, and parsnips.
Potatoes – cooked both in the oven and as mash.
Other vegetables – peas, broccoli, cauliflower
On special occasions such as Christmas also added are ‘pigs in blankets’ (pork sausages wrapped in bacon).
And ……Yorkshire pudding.
Yorkshire Pudding?
One of my favourites of a Sunday Roast.
Bathed in gravy there is little better.
Such a simple dish, really hard to get right…. but when it does…..yummy!
And what about Yorkshire Puddings?
This is a baked batter with a shape similar to that of muffins.
Originally knowns as “dripping puddings” they were originally baked sitting under the roast beef so as to collect the meat drippings. The first written record of the recipe is found in a book called “The Whole Duty of a Woman” (1737).
Nowadays, Yorkshire pudding is no longer cooked under the meat. The batter is roasted in the oven and it takes some practice to get the dish right. Ideally it should be crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle.
I love dousing the Yorkshire Pudding with gravy – it is just heaven!.
The gravy can be made from the meat juices in the roasting tray and thickened with a little flour.
There are commercial ready made powdered gravies, both meat based and vegetarian on the market which is a quick option. However, there is nothing that tastes like homemade gravy.
Is it not too hot to have a Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka?
The climate here in the Hill Country is more akin to a Summers Day in the UK regularly being between 22 – 26 degrees Celsius during the day.
You can see what the weather is like in Beragala on websites such as Climate-Data or Wanderlog or Just Weather.
The Modern Day Sunday Roast
The modern oven has taken over from roasting meat in front of the fire!
On Sundays, throughout the U.K., there is a high demand in both pubs & restaurants for a Roast Dinner. (there new some pubs that serve this every day of the week!).
Instead of slaving over the stove many people choose to go out for Sunday lunch rather than prepare it at home.
Having Sunday Roast with families or friends is great opportunity for people to get together, share and enjoy great food.
Traditional Sunday Roast now includes roasted potatoes and root vegetables, green vegetables like cabbage and spring greens, cauliflower cheese, and lots of gravy.
Roast Beef is usually on the menu, however, there are usually other options including Lamb, Ham, Chicken and even a Nut Roast for vegetarians.
We listen to our guests!
What inspired you to offer a Sunday Roast to guests?
The inspiration came from one set of our guests to highlight that we offer a Sunday Roast. They were long term in Sri Lanka from the UK and clearly missed a bit of home comforts.
They loved the Roast Chicken dinner prepared by Ru and it was a memorable part of their time at GlenMyu Estate.
We, of course, were delighted with their reaction.
Read our reviews at Booking.com and Airbnb
Find us on Booking.com and Airbnb where you can also read the full guest reviews.
What will I find at GlenMyu Estate
3 Kingsize Double Bedrooms with Spectacular Views
2 Spacious Lounges with views over the hills below the house
A Natural Spring-Fed Infinity Swimming Pool
5 Acres of land to explore.
We provide a garden tour for our guests so that they can see the different types of fruit, vegetables and spices that we grow on the estate.
Sometimes, whilst on the tour, you will pick some of the ingredients used for your evening meal.
A selection of places to dine
A place to relax and be closer to nature
Within reach of the following tourist sites
Diyaluma Waterfall and Upper Diyaluma Pools
Horton Plains National Park – Mini Worlds End, Worlds End and Bakers Falls
Adisham Bungalow
Lipton Seat
Dambetenna Tea Factory
Bambarakanda Waterfall
Thangamale Bird Sanctuary
Ella Town: 9 Arch Bridge, Little Adams Peak & Ravanna Waterfall
Any other delicious food on offer?
Off course! Please look at our menus via the following link.
Sunday Roast Recipes
There are lots of recipes that you can find online that will give you inspiration to try to make the Sunday Roast for yourself.
Ru’s favourite chef is Delia Smith who she finds really clear and easy to follow. The fact that she has early success when learning the ropes in London did help. You can find out more about this story when you stay with us at GlenMyu Estate.
Delia Smith
Delia (Ru’s favourite) gives great detail on her Roast Beef dinner recipe.
The Hairy Bikers
The Hairy Bikers recipe for Sunday Roast uses Beef which we don’t tend to offer at GlenMyu Estate.
Nadiya Hussain
Our favourite winner of The Great British Bake Off recipe is for Chicken as the main meat accompanying the traditional Roast Dinner.
Mary Berry
A National Treasure and British Institution Mary Berry’ Roast Chicken recipe is accompanied with Tarragon Butter and melting onions.
Michael Caines
Michael Caines recipe uses a roast leg of Lamb as the main meat for the dish.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh’s Chicken Sunday Roast recipe has a twist using Kale and Leeks.
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