If you’re new to the North East, you might be surprised to learn that Sunderland is home to a few regional dishes that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the country. You might not have heard of some of them, and you might even struggle to spell a couple, but you can’t consider your time as a student here complete until you’ve tried them.
Watch as our students go on a Wearside culinary journey, and learn more about each dish below:
1. Panackelty
Panacalty, panaculty, panackerty, panaggie, panack… Mackems might not always agree on how to spell it, but they will agree that it's a well-loved, wholesome family meal. This casserole dish originated as a way to use up leftover ingredients from a Sunday dinner, but usually contains corned beef, potatoes, onions, and carrots.
You'll definitely find this around local restaurants and cafés in Sunderland and if you're feeling really adventurous, you could try making it yourself...
2. Cheesy chip pie
Cheese, on chips, in a pie – it might sound like an odd combination, but Sunderland locals will swear by this Mackem creation. Cheesy chips on Wembley way were associated with Sunderland Football Club making it to Wembley Stadium in London. You’ll more than likely come across cheesy chips on a night out in town, but a cheesy chip pie is a much rarer offering, and one you’ll wonder why hasn’t caught on elsewhere.
You'll most likely find a cheesy chip pie in one of the local takeaways around the city – a great shout after a night out or if you're feeling hungover and need some stodgy food.
3. Pease pudding and stottie
Don’t be fooled by the name – pease pudding isn’t a dessert. It’s a savoury dish, traditionally made from split yellow peas, water, salt, and spices. To ‘stott’, in the North East, means to bounce, which is what this dense bread accompaniment should do if you drop it, hence the name stottie.
You'll find a stottie in any Greggs across the North East and pease pudding in pretty much any supermarket. So no excuses in trying this one!
4. Saveloy dip
The ultimate Mackem indulgence – but what is a saveloy dip? In simple terms, it's a smoked sausage sandwich, but this being Sunderland food, it’s no ordinary sandwich. Fill it with stuffing, pease pudding, and mustard, before dipping the whole thing in gravy. Good luck not making a mess!
North East born butchers shop, Dicksons, is known for its legendary saveloy dip, so make sure to pop in if you're passing by in Sunderland City Centre.
5. Pink slice
A straightforward name for a straightforward treat, but one which is pretty much universally loved here in Wearside. Pink icing covering a slice of two layers of shortbread separated by jam. Simple to make, delicious to eat – a classic Sunderland food.
Grinder Coffee, just over the road from our City Campus, does a great pink slice if you fancy stretching your legs and supporting a small local business.
Published: 4 December 2019