Best traditional Welsh foods to try

Learn more about traditional Welsh cuisine with our pick of dishes and ingredients to try. Tuck into a comforting bowl of cawl or pair a cup of tea with a warm Welsh cake.

Food Editor

Emily Lambe

If you're travelling to Wales or celebrating St. David's Day, you may be on the lookout for the best Welsh foods to try. You're in luck as Wales boasts an incredible food scene with high-quality produce and a long history of unique dishes. Tuck into a comforting bowl of stew or unwind at tea time with an afternoon sweet treat. Keep reading for our guide to Welsh food and some delicious recipe ideas to try.

Recipe ideas

1. Welsh cawl

Cawl is a traditional Welsh stew made with meat and vegetables. There are many different versions, made with whatever produce people have in their larders and fridges, with recipes often handed down from generation to generation. We use Welsh lamb neck for this dish, but if you can't find any in the Foodhall, any cut of lamb will work for this recipe. Simply simmer the lamb with chunky carrots, potatoes, leeks and swede and serve with crusty bread and Welsh cheese.

See our cawl recipe

2. Welsh rarebit

A cheesy rarebit is a quintessential dish in Welsh cuisine. A classic Welsh rarebit is made by grilling a creamy cheese sauce on top of a toasted slice of bread, like in our oozy rarebit with charred spring onion recipe. It's a dish that has inspired many unique twists, like our Welsh Rarebit Cheese Bake that combines Welsh cheddar with Welsh honey ale, English mustard, and Worcestershire sauce for a deep, tangy flavour. For something more substantial, try our leek and truffle rarebit tart, infused with Cambridgeshire Golden Ale and Parmigiano Reggiano and truffle butter.

Make our rarebit

3. Welsh cakes

Welsh cakes are a classic teatime treat, cooked on a hot griddle until perfectly golden brown. They're filled with juicy sultanas or currants and dusted with caster sugar while they're still hot. Our all-butter Welsh cakes are studded with plump Vostizza currants and gently spiced with nutmeg. They're best enjoyed warm, straight off the griddle, but can be eaten hot or cold.

Dig into our Welsh cakes

4. Leeks

Leeks are an integral part of Welsh agriculture and a significant component of Welsh culture and history. The mild Welsh climate means the leeks can be left in the ground for longer, allowing for a more earthy and peppery flavour to develop. The best part is they're incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide range of recipes. This cosy chicken, leek, and bacon pie uses just six ingredients and comes together in 25 minutes. Or try this leek and potato soup, topped with potato skin croutons and jammy eggs, on a cold, wintery day. Hosting a dinner party? These giant cheesy leek and cauliflower vol au vents from top chef Tom Kerridge will go down a treat.

Browse fresh veggies

5. Welsh lamb

Currently, we source our fresh lamb from Wales, where it’s best in season. We work closely with our farmers, who all share our high environmental and animal-welfare standards, ensuring only top-quality meat makes it onto our shelves. For a Sunday roast, serve this leg of lamb with anchovy gremolata and Mediterranean-style veg. Or use up a pack of minced lamb with these spicy meatballs paired with light and fluffy couscous.

Lamb recipes to try

6. Welsh sourdough

Our Collection sourdough loaves, baguettes and rolls are made using an exclusive recipe at Village Bakery, an award-winning spot in North Wales run by brothers and third-generation bakers Robin and Christien Jones. Each loaf takes more than 30 hours to make, allowing it to develop an incredible flavour and irresistible texture. It’s folded several times by hand, which develops the protein in the flour, creating an open texture and signature air bubbles, then baked on Italian marble for a deep, dark crust.

More about our sourdough

More Welsh foods to try

Wales is home to an impressive array of fresh produce and cultural recipes, with a rich history of cuisine. If you're celebrating a Welsh occasion like St. David's Day or visiting Wales, there are a few more traditional foods to look out for.

Bara Brith - a rich tea bread, filled with tea-soaked dried fruits like sultanas, raisins and orange peel, and infused with warming spices.
Glamorgan sausage - while you may think of meaty sausages, these vegetarian sausages are actually made of cheese, leeks and breadcrumbs.
Welsh cheese - you can't have a rarebit without some acclaimed Welsh cheese, the most well-known of which is Caerphilly.

Discover plenty of food inspiration to try new dishes and pick up the best ingredients with M&S.

Browse the Foodhall

Published 2.19.2025