Haggis - a traditional Scottish savory pudding made from sheep's offal (heart, liver, and lungs), mixed with oatmeal, onions, suet, and spices.
I've heard many stories about haggis, made from offal ingredients but my curiosity got the best of me and on our first night in Edinburgh we tried it. On the menu under the Starters was a Haggis Croquette and I thought why not? It was a small offering so if we didn't like it, there wouldn't be much food waste, and our main courses would be arriving shortly.
The presentation was lovely. It looked like an oversized meatball with fried leeks on top, sitting on a neeps and tatties (turnips and potato) puree. Todd said, "You first." So I did. The texture was chewy, the flavor savory, and the neeps and tatties with its gravy were the best part of this starter dish. We ate most of it and that was it for our haggis adventure.
At the hotel breakfast buffet, haggis and black pudding were placed side by side. My sister has traveled a lot in the UK and told me that black pudding was one of the most inedible foods she has eaten. She's adventurous trying different foods. I took her word for it and passed on that. Didn't want to start my day out with a big yuck factor.
Neeps and tatties served
with this savory, earthy dish.
Scotland’s offal meal.
I had also read about IRN-BRU, a carbonated soft drink, known as "Scotland's other national drink.” The A.G. Barr company created IRN-BRU in 1901 using a secret recipe of 32 flavors. It has a distinctive bright orange color and took me back to my youthful days of drinking red cream soda. I don't drink many carbonated beverages, especially the full sugar ones, but I did enjoy this taste of Scotland.
We eat haggis regularly, during the winter months when it is a filling, tasty and warming meal. I don't eat black pudding very often now, due to its high fat content, but we both enjoy it. It must be proper butcher shop black pudding and not the horrible supermarket stuff though.
ReplyDeleteDifferent tastes!
Yes, haggis would be a good winter meal. The hotel haggis and black pudding did not look appetizing was mass produced and did not look appetizing. I'm sure your homemade haggis and black pudding with ingredients from your butcher would taste much better. It's all about good ingredients and being prepared with love.
DeleteThank you for trying haggis, a true adventurer. I tried an IrnBru, I drink so few carbonated beverages that I quickly had enough fizzy, I didn't finish it, not because of the taste, but my discomfort with the bubbles.
ReplyDeleteI don't drink much soda, especially the full sugar soda, but the Irn-Bru hit the spot that day.
DeleteI'm impressed. You are an adventurous one to try haggis.
ReplyDeleteI had to try it just because it's a Scottish dish that's has an aura to it. I enjoyed the fish pies a lot more!
DeleteWow! You're braver than I am, trying the haggis.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't bad and I'm glad I tried. Will I eat it again? Maybe the next time I'm in Scotland.
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