The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Scottish Foods. If you manage to be in an Scottish restaurant or you are visiting Scotland, I recommend the following:
1. Kedgeree
Often described as the culinary offspring of Indian flavours and Victorian comfort food, it is basically the British version of khichdi, an Indian dish made with spiced rice and lentils. Kedgeree consists of hard-boiled eggs, smoked fish and rice seasoned with a hot curry spice mix that includes fenugreek and coriander powder, omitting the lentils. It is a popular breakfast option in England, while in Scotland it is traditionally prepared with smoked haddock.
2. Cured Meat and Cheese
Charcuterie is a product of centuries-old food preservation methods and a star ingredient in the culinary world. These versatile meats are used in a variety of recipes, from sandwiches to salads and special pasta dishes. They are also necessary when preparing a charcuterie table for a party or a small gathering with friends, which is the basis of this dish that, together with cheese, makes an excellent appetizer.
3. Shortbread
Shortbread needs no introduction. It has been a Scottish dessert choice for years; 1736 saw the first printed recipe for this wonderful invention. The buttery goodness is borderline too delicious for words, although you’ll find the flavour varies depending on who makes it. It comes in all shapes and sizes, and is the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea.
4. Black Pudding
For those unfamiliar with traditional Scottish cuisine, black pudding tends to fall into the same category as haggis. In other words, many wonder how it is edible. Take a tip, and keep an open mind. There may be blood involved, but so is sausage meat and oatmeal. From chippies to some of the best coffee, you won’t have to travel far in Scotland to find it.
5. Cranachan
Cranachan, originally a Christmas version of a much simpler porridge, is a traditional Scottish cream cheese dessert. It is made with local soft cheeses and fresh fruits such as raspberries. The modern base of this dessert is thick, lightly toasted oatmeal and whipped cream with honey or sugar added. Cranachan can be made with a variety of ingredients, including premium Scotch whisky.
6. Fish Supper
Most Brits agree that nothing is more British than fish and chips. This comforting and much-loved national dish consists of a hot, freshly fried white fish fillet and chunks of sliced chips. The most common fried fish for this dish are cod, haddock and halibut. Fish and chips are the most popular takeaway, with many fish and chips appearing across the country offering a variety of toppings and dressings, including salt, vinegar, pea puree, curry sauce, ketchup, red sauce and a cup of tea. sweetened with milk.
7. Clootie Dumpling
This is a traditional Scottish dessert pudding made with flour, breadcrumbs, sultanas, suet, sugar and spices and mixed with a little milk and sometimes golden syrup. Mix the ingredients together well to form a dough, wrap in a floured cloth and leave to soak in a large pot of water for a few hours before removing from the oven. Recipes vary according to region.
8. Haggis with Neeps and Tatties
Scotland’s national dish is made from sheep’s meat (liver, lungs and heart) minced with spices, salt, oats, suet and onion inside a lining of the animal’s stomach (nowadays it can be artificial). Leaving aside the intestines, this delicacy is absolutely divine. It is typically served with neeps and tatties; ‘neeps’ are turnips and ‘tatties’ are potatoes. If you add butter and chives to the mix, you get clapshot.
9. Cullen Skink
Almost any pub or restaurant you visit in the country will have a ‘soup of the day’ and these are usually homemade soups with a variety of tasty ingredients. But if there is one quintessential Scottish soup it is the Cullen Skink, which with fish, potatoes and milk impresses. It is made from “smoked haddock”, which translates as smoked haddock. Haddock is one of the most widely eaten fish in the British Isles and is often used to make the famous fish and chips.
10. Porridge
Scottish porridge has been enjoyed by Scots for centuries, made from oats, one of the few grains that grow well in the country, and is a healthy and tasty food rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. The oats are traditionally boiled in lightly salted water, stirred clockwise with a wooden stick called a chorrito (believed to ward off the devil) to prevent the porridge from hardening. Then serve hot in wooden bowls. Sometimes a little milk, nuts and brown sugar are added as sweetener.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional European Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.