Is a Sunday Roast Halal? The Meat and the Gravy

It depends on two things: the meat and the gravy. A Sunday roast is the classic British weekend meal, roasted meat, roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, the meal that owns Sunday in what to eat in London. Whether it's halal comes down to which meat you choose and what's in the gravy.

The meat

• Beef, lamb and chicken roasts can be halal, if the meat itself is halal-sourced. Ask.
• Pork roast (often served with crackling) and gammon (cured pork) are not halal, skip these.

The gravy

This is the easy-to-miss part. Traditional gravy is often made from the meat juices and stock, and some kitchens add a splash of wine for flavor. On a halal diet, ask whether the gravy is meat-based and whether it contains any wine, or ask for a vegetarian gravy.

The sides

Yorkshire pudding is a simple batter of egg, milk and flour, fine. Roast potatoes are fine unless roasted in a non-halal animal fat (ask if it matters to you). Vegetables are fine.

The easy route

Many halal British and gastro spots in London do a halal Sunday roast with halal meat and a suitable gravy, our guide to halal food in London explains where to look. If you're at a traditional pub, choose beef, lamb or chicken, and ask about the meat sourcing and the gravy. Finish carefully too: a few classic British desserts are spiked with alcohol.

FAQ

A note on how we talk about food: this guide is general traveler information about typical recipes, not a ruling on any specific kitchen. Recipes vary from place to place, always confirm directly with the venue.

Restaurants are chosen for quality and reputation. If you follow a specific diet, or want to know whether any dish or drink contains alcohol, please check directly with the venue.