On Saturday it will be time to dig out your finest kilt and get ready to address the haggis because it’s Burns Night.
This is the traditional Scottish event celebrating the poet Robert (“Rabbie”) Burns. The evening is steeped in tradition, even down to the poem recited as the main meal comes out.
So what can you expect from a traditional Burns Night dinner? Other than lots of whisky being passed about, these are some of the dishes you might eat.
To start…
Soup is a classic starter at a Burns Night dinner. It is January, after all, so you’ll need something to warm you up.
You might have cullen skink to begin – a thick soup full of potatoes, onions and key ingredient, smoked haddock. This is no watery soup, but rather a hearty dish made even richer by cream or milk.
If smoked fish isn’t your cup of tea, you might prefer cock-a-leekie soup. This is essentially a chicken, onion and leek soup, but can easily be made vegetarian using veggie stock and skipping the shredded chicken. Prunes are traditionally added for a hint of sweetness.
For the main…
It’s Burns Night, so eating anything other than haggis would quite possibly be considered sacrilege. By most modern standards it’s quite an unusual, peppery dish, as it’s made using offal, oatmeal and suet, traditionally boiled in a bag made from sheep or calf’s stomach.
For veggies and vegan, there are plenty of alternatives that tend to be made out of oats, vegetables, beans and lentils.
Where to buy vegan haggis and what is in it.
And your meal won’t be complete without a big helping of neeps and tatties on the side. This is the traditional accompaniment to haggis, and is a delicious side of swedes and potatoes mashed with butter or cream.
And to finish…
Burns Night food isn’t the lightest of fare, but we bet you’ll still manage to find room for dessert. You might finish up on cranachan – a traditional pudding of cream, raspberries, oats and Scottish whisky.
Continuing with the theme of boozy desserts, you might also be eating tipsy laird – a dish more commonly known as sherry trifle.
