What Are Some Creative Ways To Cook With Yorkshire Puddings?

Let's be honest, is a Sunday roast really complete without a proper Yorkshire pudding? That golden, puffy cloud of batter, perfect for soaking up gravy, is a national treasure. But what if that was just the beginning? To celebrate Yorkshire Day on 1st August, some clever food experts have been thinking outside the roasting tin, coming up with creative ways to enjoy this classic dish any day of the week. It turns out, there are many ways to get more out of your Yorkshire puddings. The humble Yorkshire pudding has a surprisingly long history.

It all started back in the 1700s in the North of England. Flour was becoming a more common ingredient in kitchens, and cooks started making what they called "dripping pudding." They'd place a tin of batter underneath the meat as it was roasting in the oven to catch all the fat and juices, creating a savoury, satisfying dish. It wasn't until 1747 that a writer named Hannah Glasse gave it the famous name we know and love today in her popular book, The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy.

Now, the experts at HelloFresh are showing everyone how this classic food can be used in some brilliant new ways. Mimi Morley, the Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh, has shared some fantastic ideas for using this classic English recipe.

"Whether you're in the mood to whip up a simple yorkshire pudding batter or looking to use up your Sunday roast leftovers, Yorkshire puddings are a surprisingly versatile food that can be used in a variety of exciting ways."

Breakfast yorkshire puddings

Imagine starting your weekend with a proper breakfast twist on the classic toad-in-the-hole. This isn't just a fantasy; it's a real, delicious possibility. This amazing dish is one of the most creative ways to enjoy a Yorkshire pudding and is perfect for a lazy Saturday morning or even for serving up to friends at a brunch get-together. Mimi Morley from HelloFresh lays out how to create this masterpiece. "I love nothing more than starting my weekend off with an indulgent breakfast and this is a morning twist on the classic toad in the hole.

This dish is also a great one to serve up to friends over brunch. Roast your favourite full English items like sausages, bacon and mushrooms in an oven proof roasting tin with olive oil. After around 15 minutes increase the oven temperature, pour in your batter and place back in the oven for 30 minutes. Finish off by cracking eggs into the dips in the batter and bake for a final 5-10 minutes depending on how you like your eggs cooked." So, you're basically making a full English breakfast, but baking it all inside one giant, magnificent Yorkshire pudding. The batter puffs up around the sausages and bacon, and the eggs cook right in the little dips. It's a simple recipe that turns a classic meal into something truly special. All you need is your batter, your breakfast favourites, and a hot oven. It's one of those ways to use a Yorkshire pudding that makes you wonder why no one thought of it sooner.

Yorkshire pudding croutons

What happens on Monday when there's a plate of leftover Yorkshire puddings from the Sunday roast sitting in the kitchen? Don't even think about throwing them away. This next idea is a genius way to reduce food waste and jazz up your midweek lunches at the same time. Turn them into crunchy, savoury croutons. This simple recipe is one of the best creative ways to handle leftovers. Here's the lowdown from Mimi at HelloFresh: "Use up Sunday's leftover yorkshire puddings for midweek lunch inspiration and to reduce food waste while you're at it.

Chop up the puddings and toss in olive oil with Italian seasoning like basil, oregano and garlic granules. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until crispy or pop them in your air fryer. You can then use the Yorkshire croutons in your weekly lunches for salads and soups. My favourite way to enjoy these is in a panzanella style salad with fresh tomatoes, red onion and fresh basil." These aren't just any croutons. They're light, airy, and full of flavour. You can toss them into a soup for a bit of crunch or, as Mimi suggests, use them in a Panzanella salad, which is a classic Italian bread salad. Just imagine those herby, crispy little bites mixed with juicy tomatoes and fresh basil. It's a brilliant way to enjoy a leftover Yorkshire pudding and a great bit of food inspiration.

Yorkshire pudding pizza

Finally, for a recipe that the whole family will enjoy, how about Yorkshire pudding pizzas? This is another one of those fantastic, creative ways to use up leftovers from your Sunday roast, and it's so easy that you can get the kids involved. It's a fun activity that helps them build confidence in the kitchen and teaches them about not wasting good food.

Mimi explains this fun, family-friendly recipe:

"Finally, another way to use up your yorkshire pudding leftovers is this family friendly recipe! Top leftover Yorkshire puddings with tomato puree, mozzarella cheese and the pizza toppings of your choice. Pop them in your air fryer for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and enjoy with the whole family. I'd recommended getting the kids involved in making their own Yorkshire pudding pizzas to help build their confidence in the kitchen and teach the importance of reducing food waste."

Each person can customise their own mini pizza. Just take a leftover Yorkshire pudding, spread on some tomato sauce, sprinkle over some cheese, and add whatever toppings you like - pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, you name it. A few minutes in the air fryer or oven, and you have a personal pizza with a light, puffy, savoury base. It's a quick and easy meal that everyone is sure to enjoy.

This recipe is a game-changer for using up what's left after a big roast. So, the next time you whip up a batch of batter, maybe make a few extra. From a hearty breakfast to crunchy croutons and fun mini pizzas, the classic Yorkshire pudding is clearly so much more than just a side for your roast. For more brilliant meal ideas and a simple recipe for the perfect Yorkshire pudding batter, you can check out the HelloFresh website.