Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (2024)

By

Elaine Lemm

Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (1)

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 09/11/20

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Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (2)

This Gaelic saying so neatly sums up the attitude toward food in Scotland: "Smairga nitarcuisairbiadh," which translates to "he who has contempt for food is a fool." Meaning,there should be a love and enjoyment of Scottish food, both traditional and modern. The country's affinity for their cuisine can easily be seen in these 14 favorite Scottish recipes.

Haggis, porridge,and whiskey are just a few of the foods and drink the Scots have created over the years, making the best use of the offerings nature handed to them from the rugged mountains, lakes, sea lochs, and streams, as well as the fertile valleys and moorlands.

Scottish food is steeped not just in the landscape but also in the history and heritage of the country, which though part of the United Kingdom, still maintains its unique identity which you will find in the following recipes.

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  • All About Haggis

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (3)

    Haggis is not merely for Burns Night (a celebration in January commemorating the life of a Scottish poet)but is a true traditional dish of Scotland loved and eaten there as well as in many other parts of the world.

    Haggis is made from sheep pluck (the often-discarded parts such as lungs, heart, etc.), which is minced and mixed with oatmeal, suet, and seasonings and then stuffed into the sheep's stomach, sewn, and cooked. The meat and the method may sound off-putting, but the combination of ingredients is delicious—you simply must try it.Haggis is the meat in that most famous of Scottish recipeshaggis, tatties, and neeps.

  • 02 of 14

    A Bowl of Scottish Porridge

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (4)

    Discover the healthy and nutritious Scottish breakfast dish of porridge, a long-standing recipe that was originally cooked in a pan and stirred with a woodenspurtle(stick). The use of oatmeal in this recipe makes this dish a healthy start to the day. Slow-release carbohydrates will sustain you from breakfast through lunchtime.

  • 03 of 14

    Tattie Scones

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (5)

    Tattie scones are a traditional part of a full Scottish breakfast and are sometimes also called potato scones; you may also hear them referred to as fadge or potato bread in Ireland. They are quick and easy to make and are a useful way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.Perfect fora breakfast plate—or any other time of day!

  • 04 of 14

    Cullen Skink

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (6)

    Cullen is a small town in Northeast Scotland and the home of one of Scotland’s most famous dishes,Cullen skink. It is a hearty soup and traditionally made with Finnan haddock (smoked haddock), potatoes, and onions. Cullen skink is also known as smoked haddock chowder in other parts of Britain. You can also useArbroath smokies—haddock that have been smoked over hardwood in and around the seaside town of Arbroath (hence the name)—a very traditional Scottish smoked fish.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.

  • 05 of 14

    co*ck-a-Leekie Soup

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (7)

    co*ck-a-Leekie soupis essentially a peasant dish and has many regional variations—some going back centuries, revealing just how important this dish is to Scottish food. There are recipes with chopped grilled bacon, others withbeef stockor Jamaican pepper, someeven with stewed prunes in the finished dish thanks to French gourmet,Talleyrand. Whichever way you make this easy recipe, it is sure to be a winner.

  • 06 of 14

    Scottish Stovies

    Ask 100 Scots for a traditional stovies recipe and you will get 100 different answers—everyone has their own version (and of course theirs will be the best).

    Stovie means "bits from the stove," which essentially means all the leftover bits from a Sunday roast. Not that you have to be restricted to the pickings from your Sunday lunch—stovies—which is basically a meat and potato stew—can also be made using a tin of corned beef or some cooked minced beef or sausages.

  • 07 of 14

    Rumbledethumps

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (9)

    You just have to love this silly-soundingname which in no way explains what it is, but it is still fun. A dish of Rumbledethumps is the Scottish way of using up the leftover mashed potatoesand other vegetables to create a hearty, sustaining casserole-like side dish (or you can eat this on its own). So easy to make, you will fall in love with it.

  • 08 of 14

    Scottish Oatcakes

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (10)

    Oatcakes are to Scotland what a baguette is to the French. The flat cakes made mainly from oats have for centuries been considered the Scottish national bread. They are quick and easy to make and are a delicious snack or accompaniment to cheese.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.

  • 09 of 14

    Scottish Shortbread

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (11)

    Though Scottish shortbreadis traditionally eaten on NewYear'sEve, this shortbread recipe is too good to save for just one night! The all-butter recipe makes for a melt-in-your-mouth cookie. Be sure to handle the dough as little as possible and to use cold hands and tools to achieve the "shortie's" signature light and crumbly texture.

  • 10 of 14

    Tipsy Laird

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (12)

    Tipsy laird is essentially the same astrifle, the pudding that has graced British tables for centuries. Also a traditional part of Burn's Night, this dessert is not only delicious but also pretty to look at. Layers of sponge cake, raspberries, custard, and whipped cream are flavored with a bit of whiskey (instead of the British sherry), which can be eliminated if serving the dish to children.

  • 11 of 14

    Scottish Cranachan

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (13)

    The traditional Scottish Cranachanis a dessert that is often served at celebrations. The red raspberry puree layered with whipped cream flavored with whiskey and honey create a festive treat that is bursting with flavor. Toasted oats add a nutty taste and crunchy texture.

  • 12 of 14

    Scottish Tablet

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (14)

    Scottish tabletis for those with a sweet tooth—this fudge-like candy is exceptionally sweet. The recipe here calls for four pounds of sugar! But the good thing is just a little bite should satisfy your craving. Feel free to add flavorings such as peppermint.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.

  • 13 of 14

    Clootie Dumpling

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (15)

    Clootie dumplingsare very different from what Americans know as dumplings—either the pouch-like Asian appetizer or the biscuit-style topping for a Southern stew. The Scottish dessert is more of a fruitcake, combining oats with currents and spices, as well as suet—animal organ fat.This hearty pudding is very much at the heart of Scottish celebrations including both ​HogmanayandBurn's Night supper.

  • 14 of 14

    Dundee Cake

    Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (16)

    Dundee cake can also be called a Scottish Christmas cake (though it is eaten year round) and iseasily identified by the almond decoration around the top. It is essentially a fruitcake traditionally including almonds, whiskey, and orange peel.

Not Just Haggis—These 14 Scottish Recipes Show the Cuisine's Diversity (2024)

FAQs

What is haggis made of answer? ›

haggis, the national dish of Scotland, a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep (or other animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices.

What food did the Scottish bring to America? ›

The Scotch-Irish came to New England, as they had to Ulster, with their own particular methods of industry and farming. They are credited with introducing potatoes, rhubarb, and new ways of farming and spinning.

Why is haggis the national dish of Scotland? ›

Scotland has Robert Burns' 1787 poem 'Address to the Haggis' to thank for the dish becoming of national importance. Haggis is traditionally served at a Burns Supper, an evening celebrating Scotland's national poet and all things Scottish. Expect tartan and bagpipes galore.

What was haggis originally made from? ›

The first known written recipe for haggis is from 1390, by one of the cooks for King Richard II, called Afronchemolye. The recipe calls for eggs, breadcrumbs and finely diced sheep's fat with seasoning (saffron) to be stuffed in a sheep's tripe and sewn securely, then steamed or boiled.

Is black pudding Scottish? ›

Black pudding is another traditional Scottish dish that is very similar to haggis as they are both made with the same ingredients: onions, pork fat, oatmeal and spices. Contrary to haggis, black pudding is made from pigs' blood, which holds all the ingredients together.

What's a full Scottish breakfast? ›

So, what is a full Scottish breakfast? Usually made up of bacon, link sausages, Lorne sausage (also known as square sausage or slice), black pudding, haggis, baked beans, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, toast, tattie scones and fried eggs, the full Scottish breakfast is a sight to behold.

How healthy is haggis? ›

The Haggis

Heart and lungs will provide some iron, zinc and selenium and the oats included in haggis will contribute to fibre intake. It's important not to over indulge in haggis as it tends to be high in fat and saturated fat as well as high in salt, so be mindful of the portion size.

Who invented haggis? ›

Haggis' origins are shrouded in mystery. There is no telling where – or when – it came into being. Some believe that it was brought over by the Romans. Although evidence is scarce, their version – made from pork – probably began as a rudimentary means of preserving meat during hunts.

Why is haggis so gross? ›

Yes, haggis' list of ingredients includes sheep lungs, as well as the animal's heart and liver. These organ meats (aka sheep pluck or offal), along with oatmeal, suet, and seasonings, are then boiled inside a sheep's stomach to produce the famed pudding.

Do Scots eat haggis for breakfast? ›

Haggis and/or white pudding (sometimes)

These are not mandatory in a Scottish breakfast, but you might still come across them. Haggis is the national dish of Scotland, and is served in all kinds of variations - even on pizza or nachos! - so it shouldn't be surprising that we'll eat it for breakfast too!

What is England's national dish? ›

The national dish of England used to be Roast Beef, and It is different from the national dish of the UK, because the UK does not have a national dish, because there a three other countries in the UK that have their own national dish.

What is haggis made of meat? ›

Haggis is a meat pudding made from sheep parts that are leftover after a sheep has been slaughtered and butchered - the heart, liver and lungs. Ground beef or mutton fat is mixed in along oatmeal and spices like onion powder and cayenne.

How to prepare haggis? ›

Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the haggis and reduce to a simmer. Time according to weight – McLays recommends boiling a 1kg natural-cased haggis for an hour and 15 minutes. To serve, carefully slit open the casing and tip the filling onto a plate.

What's the difference between black pudding and haggis? ›

However, black pudding includes the addition of blood, giving it a distinct flavour and appearance. Haggis, on the other hand, combines offal (sheep's heart, liver, and lungs) with oatmeal, suet, onions, and spices.

Do haggis still exist? ›

A large number of wild haggis still roam the moors and machair of the Western Isles and, despite the Isles of Lewis and Harris having a strict Sabbatarian tradition, the Hebridean Haggis Hunt is one of the few events that takes place on a Sunday across all of the islands – including Lewis and Harris.

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