Which British sauce is traditionally served with roast lamb?

Mint sauce is the British sauce traditionally served with roast lamb.

A classic British mint sauce is made from finely chopped fresh mint, vinegar, and sugar. The sharp acidity and cool herbal flavour contrast with the richness of lamb, which explains the pairing’s long-standing popularity. Some preparations use boiling water to help release the mint’s flavour.

Mint sauce should not be confused with mint jelly. Mint jelly is a firmer, sweeter accompaniment commonly associated with lamb, while mint sauce is a pourable vinegar-based preparation. Both remain familiar in British and Irish cooking.

The pairing appears in traditional roast dinners and is also used with other lamb dishes. Bottled versions are widely sold, but fresh mint sauce is easy to prepare and remains a classic accompaniment for a Sunday roast.