Haggis

Ahh, Haggis. The beloved traditional Scottish dish that has been savored and embraced around the world. It's an intriguing amalgamation of savory ingredients, carefully blended together to create a hearty meal.

Haggis


The base ingredient of this classic dish is a sheep's stomach filled with a mixture of minced sheep heart, liver, and lungs. This is then spiced with salt, pepper, onions, and oatmeal before being encased in the stomach lining and boiled for several hours.

The resulting Haggis is usually served with mashed potatoes, turnips, and a whisky sauce. This hearty combination provides a rich mix of flavors, textures and aromas. Each bite offers a unique insight into the flavors of Scotland and how they have been intermingled over time to create this iconic national dish.

In addition to its flavor profile, Haggis also has a unique cultural significance. It is believed to have been created centuries ago in Scotland to help use the lesser desirable cuts of meat. Today, it remains a popular meal for special occasions and holidays, often served as part of a full roasted dinner.

At the same time, some find the combination of ingredients in Haggis a bit off-putting. With its combination of sheep's innards and a strong aroma, it has a distinctly pungent smell and taste. However, those who persevere will discover a hearty and flavorful dish that has stood the test of time.

Haggis may be an acquired taste, but it's one worth acquiring. Those who take the plunge will be rewarded with a truly unique epicurean delight that needs to be savored to be truly appreciated.

Haggis recipes

Amazing Haggis recipes sourced from the web.

The origin of Haggis

The Scottish dish of haggis is a beloved delicacy, with its hearty, savory flavors and filling ingredients, making it an all-time favorite of rural Scots. But few know the true origin of this iconic dish, with its murky history shrouded in myth and controversy - so let's take a look at what we can uncover.

The earliest mentions of haggis can be traced back to an ancient Celtic poem written by the bard Taliesin around the sixth century, which evokes images of a cooking technique involving boiling animal entrails and grains. This would have been a common, accessible form of sustenance for the ancient Celts and is likely the earliest origins of haggis as we know it today.

It wasn't until much later that the dish found its way into Scotland, where it quickly became popular. This can be attributed to the availability of sheep entrails and oats, which were abundant during the 15th and 16th centuries when haggis became widely known. As times and tastes changed, numerous variations of recipes emerged, with the most popular version commonly containing oatmeal, sheep's offal, onions and spices.

Though the dish slowly grew in popularity, the dish's reputation was forever altered by the 17th century poet Robert Burns. His famous poem "Address to a Haggis" praised the dish and brought it to mass public attention. The poem was subsequently employed by chefs around Scotland, leading to an eclectic range of haggis recipes from every corner of the country.

Thus, an enigmatic form of stew cooked by the ancient Celts has been transformed throughout time and spread around the world like wildfire, becoming so beloved and widely consumed that it has become a symbol of Scottish culinary culture. So next time you enjoy a plate of delicious haggis, take a moment to reflect on its remarkable journey and pay homage to its originators.

FAQs about Haggis

Can you get haggis in the US?

No, haggis is not legally allowed in the US due to a ban on sheep lung by the Food and Drug Administration.


Do you eat the haggis stomach?

No, the haggis stomach is traditionally used as a casing for the mixture of ingredients, which includes sheep offal, oatmeal, suet, onions, and seasoning. The stomach is not eaten.


What is real haggis made of?

Real haggis is made from the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, all encased in a sheep's stomach.


What is special about haggis?

Haggis is made from the heart, liver, lungs, and other organs of a sheep. In Scotland, it is served traditionally with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes). Haggis also has a very distinct flavor, as it is heavily spiced with black pepper, cayenne, nutmeg, and other spices. It is often served with whisky or claret for a traditional Scottish meal.


Types of Haggis