A Hobbit Meal Plan
BY Alison Wiebe
If you have dreamed of living like a hobbit – cozied up by the fire, strolling through rolling green hills, and most importantly, feasting all day long – then this hobbit meal plan is just for you!
In this guide, we’ll take you through a full day of Middle Earth-inspired dining, complete with delicious recipes fit for the Shire. From a hearty first breakfast to a satisfying supper – with bonus recipes for dessert and a pre-dinner cocktail – there is a selection of recipes that are sure to satisfy your hobbit tastes.
So grab your finest waistcoat, pour yourself a cup of tea, and let’s eat like a hobbit!
Plan your Hobbit Day of Feasting
The timing of your hobbit feast will depend on the type of event you are hosting. This meal plan is perfect for a Lord of the Rings movie marathon, a Hobbit Day menu, or just a gathering of friends for the day. Depending on the size of each meal you decide on, you may wish to tweak the suggested hobbit meal schedule above to give you more time to digest after a larger meal or allow for a brisk stroll between meals.
With so many meals, meal prep will be key. Prepping ingredients and components of the recipes the day before will make it easier to quickly throw together on the day of your feast. If you have feasting companions, assigning meals amongst the feasting party will also be a time saver.
First Breakfast
The first breakfast of the day is likely going to be a more traditional breakfast with eggs, bacon and potatoes. However, if you have a sweet tooth, a hearty rye pancake recipe is a great option too.
Savoury Dutch baby with Tomatoes, Sausage and Bacon: Fans of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy will know that the hobbits are fond of “tomatoes, sausages and nice crispy bacon”.
Bacon Mushroom Breakfast Potatoes: This recipe is full of the hobbits’ favourite ingredients like mushrooms and potatoes, making for a delightful start to the day.
Buttermilk Rye Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce: This recipe was inspired by the Kingdom of Rohan and its vast grasslands which would have been ideal for harvesting crops like rye. Topped with honeyed skyr, a Scandinavian dairy product, and blueberry sauce, this sweet breakfast recipe is filling and energizing.
Second Breakfast
For your second breakfast, you can keep the traditional recipes going with eggs and sausages, or opt for a more decadent and filling meal.
Wild Mushrooms on Cheese Toast: A medley of wild mushrooms picked from Farmer Maggot’s crop, cooked with sherry on a cheesy toast is a classic hobbit treat.
Potato Bacon Pie: This rich savoury pie is filled with layers of thinly sliced potatoes, bacon, cheese, and cream baked within a buttery pie crust, for the ultimate Shire comfort food.
Herbed Lamb Sausage with Green Sauce: This herbaceous breakfast recipe was originally created in honour of the Elves of Rivendell; however, herbed sausage patties with green sauce and eggs would surely be loved by any hobbit.
Elevenses
After two hearty breakfasts, it’s time for a lighter sweet treat as the morning meals come to an end and we anticipate a heartier savoury luncheon.
White Braided Bread with Whipped Brie, Berries and Honey: Inspired by the spread prepared by Tom Bombadil’s wife, Goldberry, in the book the Fellowship of the Ring, whipped brie with honey and berries atop a white braided bread is a delightful elevenses snack.
Soft Pumpkin Rolls with Spiced Butter: These tender pumpkin rolls become a sweet treat when paired with a sweet and spicy whipped butter.
Baked Oatmeal with Caramelized Apples: This sweet baked oatmeal with caramelized apples was originally created for the Dwarves of the Misty Mountains; but we know the hobbits would love a hearty oatmeal snack.
Luncheon
This mid-day meal is a good time to refuel for the rest of the day. Soup, cheese, charcuterie, and other savoury delights are perfect for a luncheon in your cozy hobbit hole or served at the local Inn like the Green Dragon or the Prancing Pony.
Ploughman’s Lunch: This filling luncheon spread is inspired by the farmhouse fare served at the Prancing Pony at Bree. For a lighter lunch, you can choose one of the recipes from the ploughman’s lunch such as the beef, stout and barley soup, the spiced cherry and port glazed ham or a simple charcuterie board.
Creamy Mushroom Soup with Cheddar and Herb Soda Bread: Once again, mushrooms are a must for any hobbit feast. You can make the wild mushroom soup on its own, or pair it with this easy soda bread recipe.
Potted Ham: This recipe is easy to make ahead and is perfect for a lighter but satisfying lunch. Inspired by the Kingdom of Rohan and their great feasting halls, potted ham is best enjoyed with a loaf of crusty bread.
Afternoon Tea
After a fulsome savoury luncheon, it’s time to put on the kettle and curl up with a hot cup of tea and a sweet treat.
Beorn’s Spiced Mead Honey Cake: Cake is a quintessential afternoon tea treat! The famous honey cakes of the Beornings are made with sweet mead, spices and honey.
Rhubarb Apple Crisp with Hay Custard: A tart rhubarb crisp topped with a luscious hay-infused custard pairs well with a cuppa. This recipe was originally inspired by the Kingdom of Rohan with their renowned horse culture and surrounding grasslands.
Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls with Browned Butter Icing: Cinnamon rolls may not be traditional hobbit fare, but we can’t imagine they would be anything less than delighted by these gooey browned butter and apple cider cinnamon rolls.
Lavender Lembas Bread: For a classic Middle Earth delicacy, lembas bread will satiate you and delight your tastebuds. This elvish way bread is infused with lavender for a delicate aromatic touch.
Pre-Dinner Drink
In anticipation of an evening of continued feasting, discover a new elixir from another region of Middle Earth.
Ale, beer or stout: Hobbits are known for their love of ale and even brew their own. For a simple yet satisfying pre-dinner drink, enjoy a pint of your favourite ale or stout.
Ent Draught: The mysterious old ent draught contains the essence of the forest. This cedar gin cocktail has plenty of refreshing citrus and a tree-ish flavour.
Orc Draught: The fiery and revitalizing orc draught contains cinnamon whiskey and fresh blackberries.
Galadriel’s Honey Sage Cocktail: This golden-hued elixir is flavoured with woodsy sage and sweet honey in honour of the golden-haired Lady of Lorien.
Dinner
It is now time for the main meal of the day, which calls for a hearty dish of savoury meats, fresh herbs and vegetables.
Cider Braised Rabbit with Herbs: Feast on scavenged game (caught by Smeagol and ruined by Sam) with fresh herbs from the countryside of Ithilien.
Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pie: A warm chicken and mushroom pot pie topped with cheddar sage biscuits is the ultimate hobbit comfort food.
Ale Braised Lamb Shanks with Barley: Slow cooked and tender, these ale braised lamb shanks with a rustic barley stew are inspired by the dinners of the great feasting halls of Rohan.
Roasted Delicata Squash with Browned Butter Vinaigrette: For a lighter vegetarian option, this recipe for tender caramelized delicata squash with hazelnuts and dried cranberries was originally inspired by the Elves of Rivendell.
Supper
It wouldn’t be a hobbit meal plan without a second dinner!
Samwise Gamgee’s Fish and Chips: Sam promised to serve Gollum his own homemade fried fish and chips if Gollum turned over a new leaf. Because that never came to be, we will enjoy these battered fish and chips in honour of Sam and his return to the Shire.
Pork Stew with Bacon, Apples and Prunes: Originally inspired by the Dwarves of the Misty Mountains and their hearty appetites, this rich slow braised pork stew is perfect for a hungry hobbit.
Mead Glazed Ham Baked in Hay: This slow roasted mead glazed ham was inspired by the Kingdom of Rohan and its renowned horse culture. An impressive and flavourful dish for supper.
Cheesy Chard Cakes: Vegetarian dishes can be scarce when cooking for hobbits who love their hearty comfort food, but these chard cakes created for the Elves of Rivendell are a satisfying vegetarian option for supper.
Dessert
While dessert isn’t typically mentioned in the traditional 7 hobbit meals, we can only assume dessert is just assumed!
Hazelnut Meringue Cake with Strawberries and Cream: When Sam urges Frodo on by reminding him of the taste of strawberries and cream and the hazel thicket back home, he must have been dreaming of this nutty and creamy hazelnut meringue cake.
Cardamom Pear Bread Pudding: Bread pudding is sure to be a staple in the kitchens of hobbits. This gooey cardamom bread pudding with spiced pears and caramel sauce is the perfect decadent end to a day of feasting.
Ginger Beer Poached Pear Cake: Warm spices, ginger beer, pears and a dollop of whipped cream. This comforting dessert is an excellent way to wind down the day.
