Published by Graeme on
If you’re planning a trip to Scotland then you’re probably wondering to yourself what is Scottish food?
When I’m travelling abroad, the first thing I look up is what to eat when I get there. To me, true travelling is immersing in a culture and trying something new. Sticking to what you know might be safe, but I don’t visit new places just to eat McDonalds. So what would I recommend you eat in Scotland and what is Scottish food?
Scotland’s cuisine isn’t as internationally well known as Italian, Chinese or French. But with the fantastic natural larder in this country, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Scottish food. Trust me, there is so much more to feast on than just Haggis!
It’s such an important topic that if you watched Men in Kilts then they covered it in Episode 1!
What Is A Scottish Breakfast?
The most important meal of the day and one that might even deserve its own dedicated article! So what’s a traditional Scottish breakfast?
Porridge – A bowl of porridge is the classic, simple working day breakfast. At its core, this is just oats mixed with either milk or water, heated up to form a delicious mush. What to do with it from there is entirely up to you.
Sugar, jam or honey if you have a sweet tooth. Maybe fruit or berries if you want a health kick. You could even take the really traditional Scottish route and add some salt. I’ve tried to get on board with salt, but it’s just not for me.
Full Scottish Breakfast – If you prefer your Scottish food to be meaty and fried then look no further. Sometimes called a Full Scottish or a fry up, this is a plate loaded with a variety of ingredients. It’s slightly different everywhere you go and the perfect combination is an argument that will never be settled.
The usual suspects are bacon, egg, sausage, baked beans, haggis, black pudding, fruit pudding, tattie scones, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast. Don’t worry vegetarians, there are almost always options for meat free sausages and haggis. Given the chance, I would eat all of it but just be aware that this is a heavy meal. If you pick this to start every day, you might struggle to get out of your chair!
Confusing Breakfast Ingredients
After reading that last section, some people might have even less of a clue about what Scottish food is now! I realise that some of those Full Scottish Breakfast ingredients might be a little confusing. If you haven’t heard of haggis then don’t worry, we’ll go into more detail later but as for the others:
Black Pudding – Round, sliced and fried, Black Pudding sounds much less appealing than it is. It’s a type of sausage made from blood, fat and oats but please don’t let that put you off. The flavour is slightly spicy and the high oat content means that it’s firm rather than soft and mushy.
Fruit Pudding – Also round, sliced and fried, fruit pudding is one of the less common options. Made with breadcrumbs, sugar and raisins it’s sweet, but perfect alongside the other meaty flavours.
Tattie Scone – A tattie scone is potato mashed with butter, rolled out until it’s flat and thin. Sliced into triangles then fried, trust me these are fantastic.
Sausage – I can hear you saying that you know what a sausage is, but when it comes to Scottish food, you may be surprised. As well as the elongated linked sausage that you’re used to, we also have flat, square sausage. You might hear it called flat, square, sliced or Lorne sausage. It’s a different texture than link sausage but definitely worth trying.
What is a Scottish Main Course?
Haggis, Neeps & Tatties – This is the meal that you’re likely going to see in every Scottish restaurant and probably on every “What is Scottish Food” list. Famously eaten at Burns Suppers, “Haggis, Neeps and Tatties” has been adopted as our national dish although you find it in some very inventive forms. It might be simply heaped on the plate, stacked in a tower or formed into balls and deep fried.
The first time you hear about it, haggis sounds disgusting but you’re guaranteed higher quality ingredients than any hotdog or pizza topping. It’s the pluck of a sheep in other words the heart, liver and lungs all chopped up with oats and spices. The texture is smooth and the taste a little spicy. Neeps are mashed turnip and the tatties are mashed potatoes.
Game Meat – A lot of Scotland is still wild countryside and the thousands of acres of heather covered hills provide excellent game. Venison will usually be roe or red deer and found on the menu as steak, stew, sausages or in a pie. Think of it like a richer, leaner version of beef.
When it comes to birds, grouse is another game staple of many Scottish restaurants. A lot of country estates rely on income from grouse shooting with the season starting on 12th of August, also known as the Glorious Twelfth.
Chicken Balmoral/Braemar – These are variations on the same dish. Chicken stuffed with haggis (Balmoral) or black pudding (Braemar), then usually covered in a whisky cream sauce. Simple but very, very good.
What Is Scottish Seafood?
It’s no surprise that with the size of Scotland’s coastline and vast number of islands and lochs, a lot of Scottish food choices will be seafood!
Salmon – The number one thing that comes to mind when thinking of Scottish seafood is salmon. Scotland’s rivers provide some of the best in the world and you’ll find it on menus all over the country. Cold or hot smoked, for breakfast or dinner, you’re in for a treat.
Langoustine – Not just one of my favourite Scottish foods, but one of my favourite foods anywhere on earth. Langoustine are somewhere between a large prawn and a small lobster. Fished all around the Scottish coast, if you see these on the menu then jump at the chance to order them!
Shellfish – It’s not just langoustine or prawns, the list of shellfish goes on and on. Visit any Scottish beach and there’s a good chance you’ll find mussel or co*ckle shells. Scallops are another staple of Scotland’s seafood scene as well as oysters, although those aren’t to my taste….
Abroath Smokie – This is a regional delicacy, which due to its protected status can only be made within 8km of Arbroath. The haddock is gutted, salted and smoked over woodchips in an oak barrel. What you’re left with is soft, smoky fish with a surprisingly sweet taste. Perfect if you’re visiting Angus!
Cullen Skink – Another regional dish, this time Cullen on the Moray coast. This doesn’t have protected status and you’ll find it all over Scotland as a common starter. It’s a fish soup that was invented to replace beef stew when times were hard, but was so good it stuck around. Made from smoked haddock, potatoes and milk, it’s very creamy and very delicious.
What Is Scottish Sweet Food?
If you have any space after all of that, it’s time to pack in a Scottish pudding. Don’t be confused, the word pudding here generally just means dessert and Scotland has lots of them to offer.
Cranachan – Top of the list for me although some people might call it old fashioned is Cranachan. Fun to say and even more fun to eat. It’s whipped cream, toasted oats, honey, whisky and raspberries all mixed up together. Just incredible.
Tablet – The sweetest of all Scottish food and far too sweet for me is tablet. Think of it like solid, crumbly fudge but somehow even more sickly. There’s an awful lot of sugar in this and it should be nibbled rather than eaten in big chunks. Tiny cubes are often found alongside an after dinner coffee.
Shortbread – Surely one of the best known Scottish foods that has made its way around the world. This sweet, buttery, crumbly biscuit has been around for hundreds of years. It was even a favourite of Mary Queen of Scots so if it’s good enough for her majesty, it’s good enough for me.
Clootie Dumpling – Here’s a pudding you might not have heard of. A clootie is an old Scots word for a rag and this dumpling is a little bit like a Christmas pudding, wrapped up in cloth and boiled. Full of dried fruit and spices, served with a big dollop of cream, it’s an absolute classic.
Cheese and Oatcakes – Ok, I appreciate that cheese isn’t specifically Scottish. But there are a whole host of excellent cheesemakers all around Scotland from famous Arran Cheese to smaller local producers. Whether it’s on dinner menu or at a local counter, you should absolutely sample some with Scottish oatcakes given the opportunity.
Other Scottish Food Options
Sometimes you don’t want a full meal or a sweet treat. These are the dishes that I couldn’t fit into a category but in no way deserve to be left out!
Forfar Bridie – This is a type of pasty that has at least been considered for protected status. Somewhere between a pie and a pasty, the Forfar bridie is filled with minced beef, onion and spices and surrounded by pastry in a D-shape. Forfar is the county town of Angus and obviously the best place to pick these up. Usually, they’re about the size of half a dinner plate!
Stovies – These are a staple Scottish food and perfect for a big group of people like Hogmanay or the after wedding party. To stove means to stew and so stovies are stewed potatoes, mixed with butter, onion and whatever else you want to throw in, usually leftover meat. Often served with oatcakes, it’s a great comfort food.
A Chippy – A chippy is a fish and chip shop which I’m aware isn’t specifically Scottish. However, Scotland does have a slightly different take on things and this should clear up any potential confusing. There are plenty of great options like the usual deep fried fish in batter alongside haggis or black pudding. Definitely worth sampling the chippy version in my opinion.
When it comes to ordering, the most important thing to remember is that “Supper” means with chips. So if you want fish and chips, you’ll see it on the menu as a Fish Supper. If you just want the fish etc on its own then ask for a “Single Fish”. Then it’s a choice of salt, vinegar, tomato ketchup, brown sauce or just “as it comes”.
Go Feast!
I hope this helps you plan what to eat in Scotland and you’re stomach is rumbling as much as mine is now. If you think there’s something I’ve missed or discovered something fantastic on a trip then let me kno.! I’m always happy to try new food!
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