When you think of Scottish food, some traditional dishes may spring to mind such as haggis and black pudding. But you might also be surprised to know that Scotland is renowned for its high-quality produce, seafood, and vegan and vegetarian cuisine. Here are our top eight Scottish foods to try!
1. Haggis
We’re starting off with Scotland’s national dish, haggis. But what is haggis? Haggis is a savoury meat pudding made of oatmeal, onion and spices. It’s traditionally served with a whisky sauce and accompanied by neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes).
Photo credit: VisitScotland/Luigi Di Pasquale
Haggis has been a staple in Scottish cuisine for centuries. It’s believed that the first haggis recipe dates back to the 15th century. The traditional hearty dish is often the centre point of a Burns’ Supper.
Today, haggis continues to be a staple of many contemporary dishes in Scotland. You can enjoy a modern twist on the traditional dish with options such as haggis pakora or Balmoral chicken (chicken stuffed with haggis and topped with bacon). There are also vegan and vegetarian haggis options too!
Find out more about haggis (visitscotland.com)
2. Scottish porridge
Porridge has been a staple in our cuisine for over 5,000 years. The classic breakfast item is traditionally made with ground oats and water or milk. You can add a pinch of salt or opt for a sweetened version by adding syrup, honey or fruit.
3. Scottish Seafood
With our clear coastal waters, Scotland has an abundance of high-quality and delicious seafood such as oysters, lobster, wild trout and langoustines. We’re also well-known for our wild salmon.
Did you know that Scottish Wild Salmon has protected status? Some Scottish produce is so unique that it has been designated Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by the European Union. These high-quality products have to be produced in an agreed way and within a specific area to make use of the regional name.
If you’re interested in trying some Scottish seafood, find out more about the best seafood shacks in Scotland (visitscotland.com).
Photo credit: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam
4. Rumbledethumps
You might be less familiar with this one! Rumbledethumps is a traditional vegetarian Scottish dish which is made of buttery mash, cabbage and swede. This side dish is believed to come from the Scottish borders.
Its unique name is thought to come from the sound that the potatoes and cabbage make as they are mixed in a large pot with a spoon.
5. Black pudding
Black pudding is a must-try Scottish food but what exactly is it? Black pudding is a traditional type of blood sausage. It’s made from pork or beef blood, beef suet or pork fat and combined with oat groats or barley groats.
Black pudding has a long history, it’s believed that the earliest mention of this traditional dish dates back to around 800 BC.
Today, black pudding is often served as part of a full Scottish breakfast but also features in contemporary dishes at restaurants and pubs across Scotland.
A popular option is Stornoway Black Pudding which comes from Stornoway on Lewis and has European protected status.
6. Cranachan
Known as the king of Scottish desserts, Cranachan is a delicious, traditional Scottish dish made of cream, fresh raspberries, toasted Scottish oats and whisky. Cranachan was originally a breakfast item and a celebration of harvest, eaten when raspberries were in season. Today, cranachan is enjoyed all year round as a delicious dessert!
Photo credit: VisitScotland/Luigi Di Pasquale
7. Shortbread
Shortbread is a Scottish biscuit often enjoyed with a cup of tea. It’s believed that shortbread dates back to the 12th century. Shortbread was traditionally reserved for special occasions such as Christmas and Hogmanay when first footing – the Scottish tradition of bringing a gift when you’re the first person to enter the house after midnight in the new year. But you can also enjoy shortbread all year-round!
8. Scottish soups
Soups have always been part of the Scottish cuisine. We’re well known for Cullen Skink which is a traditional creamy soup made with smoked fish, leeks and potatoes. Another popular soup is Cock-a-leekie, a thick soup made of chicken, rice and leeks.
You might have also heard of Scotch Broth which is made from barley, seasonal vegetables and cuts of lamb or beef. There’s also a vegetarian option!
Scotland’s regional dishes
Each region also has its own delicacies which are named after the town or city that they come from, but you’ll also find them in many restaurants, shops and pubs across Scotland.
- Aberdeen butteries
- Dundee Cake
- Arbroath Smokies
- Aberdeen Angus beef
Scottish food and drink
By living in Scotland, you can experience the rich culinary traditions at the heart of our culture and enjoy a blend of traditional and contemporary dishes. You’ll also be spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants and places to eat out in Scotland (visitscotland.com)
If you’re interested in learning more about Scottish food traditions, discover Scottish food traditions (nts.org.uk)
Find out more information about sourcing Scotland's finest food and drink (naturallyscottish.com)
Header and listing image credit: VisitScotland / Kenny Lam