Wimbledon is the third Grand Slam event of the tennis season. Established in 1877, this iconic British summertime sporting event is watched by fans all over the world, and what better way to mark the season than with a delicious spread of themed food and drink? Whether you're enjoying the tennis with family and friends, or hosting an elaborate finals watch party, this recipe round-up will equip you with all you need for a successful day at the matches; from chorizo and cheese sausage rolls to a showstopping giant pavlova and a selection of British summertime cocktails. Read on to see what to serve up.
A quintessentially British snack given a summery, Mediterranean twist. Smoky chorizo is complemented by the mild sweetness of Spanish Manchego in this flavourful take on the classic sausage roll. It's perfect for an afternoon snack or as part of a larger Wimbledon watch party spread.
With strawberry season in full swing, take full advantage of the British summertime favourite by incorporating berries into this salad. Peppery rocket and creamy avocado are tossed with strawberries and a homemade honey and shallot salad dressing in this unusual combination. The recipe is easily multiplied for larger groups or scaled down for smaller gatherings.
Wimbledon simply wouldn’t be complete without strawberries and cream. Fans at Wimbledon get through an absurd 28,000kg (61,700lb) of strawberries every year. You likely don’t even need a recipe for this one. Simply trim the stalks off of your strawberries and combine with lashings of single or double cream. For a refreshing twist on this classic, try adding a sprig of fresh mint or substituting the cream for mascarpone.
Find out more about the history of strawberries and cream here
If ‘traditional’ isn’t your thing, look no further than this strawberry and lavender panna cotta for an updated take on the classic strawberries and cream. Dried lavender adds a floral flair to the indulgent Italian delicacy, which literally translates to ‘cooked cream’. This recipe recommends serving with homemade olive oil shortbread fingers for dipping.
Impress your guests with this homemade tomato and rosemary focaccia, which makes the perfect accompaniment to your summer salad dishes. Requiring only an hour’s proving time, focaccia is one of the easiest breads you can master, with ripe, seasonal cherry tomatoes making this version perfect for a summer’s day watching the Wimbledon action. Experiment by using your tomatoes and rosemary to make patterns or designs in the loaf.
Brits will take any opportunity to get a barbecue going, and what better excuse than to watch the tennis with friends and family? Juicy tiger prawns skewered and grilled with a lime, chilli and butter marinade bring heat to this British summertime tradition. Perfect as a starter or accompanied by some of our barbecue side dishes.
For vegetarian guests, try adding this chilli and lime plantain to your barbecue lineup. The common banana’s savoury cousin, the plantain is a fruit native to southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, and perfect for grilling (you can tell it’s ripe and ready when the skin turns black). Served with a honey glaze, these barbecue plantains will be appreciated by vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. To veganise the recipe, substitute honey for agave syrup.
You can never go wrong with a good selection of chips and dips. This selection of homemade dips offer a fresher alternative to store-bought, with the option of adjusting the ingredients to the tastes of you and your guests. Choose between a basic hummus recipe or a cooling Greek tzatziki, a hot rarebit dip or a more unusual curried honey mayo.
A potato salad is always a winner at a summer party or barbecue. This recipe uses garlic and herb-infused soft cheese (such as Boursin) rather than mayo for a fresher, herby take on the classic. Use celery and red onion for added crunch, plenty of capers for a salty hit and fragrant fresh herbs. Parsley, dill or chives work as a great addition to the flavours in the soft cheese.
A simple green salad makes a great addition to any spread. Revamp your greens with a homemade dressing from this round-up. It can be as simple as a good extra virgin olive oil shaken with balsamic or cider vinegar, a classic such as sweet honey mustard or something a little different such as coconut and horseradish. The secret to a good dressing is in the balance and quantities of ingredients – taste as you go along and adjust your quantities according to your preference.
Coronation chicken is a seemingly unusual but delicious and classic British combination. Drawing on South Asian flavours with mango chutney and curry powder, Heston Blumenthal’s coronation chicken recipe is an updated take on the snack, originally invented to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953. The chicken salad can be eaten with bread, as a sandwich filling or alone.
This savoury tart has tangy, seasonal tomatoes to cut through buttery shortcrust pastry and rich homemade pesto. This tart isn’t just delicious for a Wimbledon watch party spread but will look beautiful presented to guests, with vibrant red and green from fresh tomato and basil. The tart is sure to add a pop of colour to your spread!
We all love BBQ ribs, but spending hours at the grill and potentially missing an important Wimbledon set? Less so. Don't worry, these easy smokehouse ribs use a slow-cooker instead. Keep the fall-off-the-bone goodness of ribs but with much less slaving away at a grill. You can keep your guests well fed without having to miss out on quality time with them. Even better, any leftover spicy brown sugar glaze will keep up to three months in the fridge, so you can keep the ribs coming throughout Wimbledon season.
No British affair is complete without some finger sandwiches; here’s a sandwich with a difference. This recipe is an entire loaf with its insides scooped out and replaced with grilled veg and oozy mozzarella. And you only have to make one for all of your guests to share! Simply slice into smaller portions when ready to serve.
For minimum effort on a hot summer day, try these easy chicken gyros: spicy rotisserie chicken, homemade Greek tzatziki, a garlicky chilli dressing and some salad in a handy pita pocket. Pop your components in individual bowls and present a build-your-own buffet for guests. Experiment with different dressings and toppings, swap the chicken for another protein source – the options are endless!
Lucky enough to be heading to Wimbledon for the matches? Start your day with this strawberry power smoothie. This recipe uses oats and Greek yoghurt for added body, making it a perfect breakfast for the journey there. Use fresh or frozen strawberries and whizz them up in your blender to make this recipe from Henry Dimbleby for Leon, delicious for your day at the tennis.
These raw vegan tarts are a great, healthier alternative to a classic tart. Using a mix of ground nuts and coconut oil for the ‘pastry’ base, cashews for the ‘cream’ filling, and both fresh and dried strawberries to top it off. The nut base adds a fruitier, crunchier texture than a traditional crust, making this a healthy sweet treat for those following a raw vegan diet or those looking to cut down on refined sugars.
Nothing screams Britain like national treasure Mary Berry, and what better way to mark Wimbledon season with one of her recipes? Crunchy ciabatta croutons add a bit of bite to the crisp romaine, roasted red pepper and creamy cannellini beans, with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette and fragrant fresh parsley. Toss this together for a quick summertime meal!
A firm summer favourite, this Italian-inspired cocktail is a welcome addition to any summertime feast. Aperol is a bright orange apéritif, with slightly bitter notes of oranges and herbs. It's a refreshing party drink and no cocktail shaker is required here, so it’s quick to whip up one, two or 10 for you and your guests. Fill a large glass with ice, then add three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol and one part soda water. A slice of orange or grapefruit is a lovely garnish.
Ask any Brit what they’re ordering in the pub garden this summer and they’ll all tell you one thing: Pimm’s. The fruity liqueur is topped with sparkling lemonade and mixed with tonnes of ice, chopped fruit and mint. Anything you can get your hands on works: strawberries, apples, oranges, sliced cucumber, you name it. Normally, this refreshing sparkling cocktail is mixed up in a large pitcher or punch bowl and served into individual glasses, making this perfect for your guests to help themselves to. Looking for an extra layer of decadence? Switch out some (or all) of the sparkling lemonade for Prosecco or another sparkling wine and make this a ‘Pimm’s royale’.
A fun cocktail-meets-dessert to serve after dinner, raspberry sorbet floats are short and sweet, and will put a spring in your step as a refreshing after dinner treat on a summer’s night. Put 1-2 teaspoons of raspberry liqueur into a glass, add a scoop of raspberry sorbet then top with sparkling wine and a sprig of mint. If you have fresh (or frozen and defrosted) raspberries, add a few to serve.
A sweet slushie drink. A refreshing non-alcoholic alternative for kids, those who don’t drink or those who just want a treat! A great alternative at a party so that there’s a strawberry-themed option for all guests and family to enjoy with the tennis.
Another Mary Berry extravaganza, perfect for street parties or picnics in the British summertime. Not actually Scottish (unlike Andy Murray), Scotch eggs were invented by decadent and iconic British department store Fortnum & Mason in the 1700s. But we reckon Andy still loves a Scotch egg. The classic ‘picky bit’ is a boiled egg (runny or hard yolk) enveloped in seasoned sausage meat, before being coated in breadcrumbs and baked or deep fried.
Scotch eggs might be a British classic but they’re not vegetarian friendly in the slightest. Not to worry, this Fabulous Baker Brothers recipe uses a mix of finely chopped mushrooms, cream cheese, shallots and parsley to create a delicious vegetarian alternative to the classic sausage meat filling.
If you’re feeling up to a culinary challenge, give these mini picnic pies a go. They use hot-water pastry, a traditional, crisp and golden pastry which sets quickly and requires you to work somewhat speedily. This recipe calls for a filling of turkey, chicken breast, dried apricots and pistachios, set with gelatine.
Scones might be a bit of a British stereotype but they’re a firm favourite for a reason! This recipe calls for cherry jam instead of the classic strawberry, which is a welcome, seasonal twist. It also uses cherry yoghurt for a lighter filling than a more traditional clotted cream, as well as ginger in the pastry, giving it a fiery kick.
One of the simplest but most delicious sandwich cakes. This is an equal mix of eggs, butter, sugar and flour, held together by a generous layer of raspberry jam and dusted with icing sugar. The cake can actually be dated back to Spain in the Renaissance era but gets its name from iconic British Queen Victoria, who regularly enjoyed the cake every afternoon with her tea. This cake makes a lineup fit for a queen.
An old-school recipe calling for a mix of a fresh strawberry compote, layered with a homemade vanilla custard and topped with a crunchy strawberry granola. Equal parts creamy and crunchy and served cold, this makes a light and refreshing but still indulgent dessert for those stifling summer evenings in Wimbledon season.
This recipe requires no heat, no custard and no ice cream machine. But you still get to tell your guests you made the ice cream yourself! This recipe for strawberry ice cream uses buttermilk and sour cream combined with fresh strawberry purée and vanilla pods for a sweet and cooling summertime treat.
This absolute showstopper of a dessert is the perfect finish to a day watching the matches at Wimbledon. A giant meringue means that the insides stay a little gooey, with the outsides crisp. Filled to the brim with passion fruit and berries (sub the blueberries for strawberries to make this a fitting Wimbledon treat!) and drizzled with a homemade salted caramel, this is sure to leave your guests thoroughly dazzled.
Get the recipe for giant strawberry pavlova here
Or take a look at some common baking mistakes, and how to fix them