One of my favorite things about my Scottish Folk Tours trip was the opportunity to try so many different kinds of Scottish cuisine.
Known for its rich history and cultural heritage, Scotland has much to offer your taste buds when it comes to traditional and delicious meals. Surrounded by plentiful seas and interspersed with fertile lands, the vibrant food scene is sure to leave you craving more.
From traditional haggis to savory porridge and everything in between, Scottish cuisine is unique among its European counterparts.
1 Scotch Pie
I listed this first because Scotch pie was my favorite thing to eat in Scotland! Small but delicious, Scotch pies are double-crusted meat pies traditionally filled with minced mutton but can also be found with other types of minced meat. These little bites of deliciousness can be served hot or cold.
Haggis Scotch pie is yummy!
For over 20 years, the Scottish Bakers Trade Association has held a World Scotch Pie Championship every year, bringing bakers & butchers closer together to compete to win the iconic Scotch pie trophy.
2 Haggis
Biology Big Brother, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Scotland’s legendary national dish known as haggis consists of sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, enhanced with onions, spices, suet, stock, oats, and other seasonings. The ingredients are combined and then boiled inside the lining of a sheep’s stomach.
It’s actually delicious and full of flavor, but if it doesn’t sound appetizing, you can get it as a filling in a Scotch pie (#1 above), which is fabulous, and a no-risk way to try the quintessential Scottish cuisine.
3 Neeps & Tatties
The legendary haggis (#2 above) is typically served with “neeps and tatties,” which are turnips and potatoes that have been boiled and mashed.
4 Fish & Chips
This Scottish cuisine hardly needs an introduction since it’s so delicious that it’s been picked up and served in many other countries. Fish such as haddock or cod is dipped in a thick batter and fried to a crunchy golden brown. Served fresh with crispy “chips” (French fries) and peas, fish and chips are one of the most popular types of pub food throughout the United Kingdom.
5 Scones with Clotted Cream
Another of my favorites, a scone is a traditional British baked good, also popular in Scotland. It is usually made of wheat flour or oatmeal and baking powder, slightly sweetened, and baked on sheet pans.
There is a difference between American scones and British scones. American scones are triangular and use much more butter and sugar than British scones, making them a lot denser. The British scone is more like an American biscuit.
Both types are addictive when served with rich clotted cream, a thick cream made by heating full-cream cow’s milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. During this time, the cream content rises to the surface and forms “clots” or “clouts”, hence the name.
While many choose to also spread jam on their scones to sweeten, I prefer just the richness of the clotted cream.
6 Cullen Skink
Cullen Skink is a creamy and flavorful smoked haddock soup originating from the small fishing village of Cullen in the northeastern part of Scotland. It also contains potatoes and onions and is typically served with a side of toasted bread.
7 Deep Fried Mars Bar
A quirky street food option is deep-fried Mars bars. Invented in 1992 by John Davie near Aberdeen, the famous American chocolate bar is battered with a mixture of flour, eggs, and milk, and then deep-fried in oil. The resulting sweet treat is melted chocolate enveloped in crispy batter. You can find this item in chip shops throughout Scotland as a novelty item.
8 Scottish Seafood
Surrounded on three sides by ocean, plus 790 islands, it’s no surprise that Scotland is known for its seafood. Coastal destinations and fishing villages offer mouth-watering selections including smoked salmon, renowned for its delicate flavor and velvety texture, mussels, oysters, and lobster.
9 Scotch Eggs
Scotch Eggs are a popular breakfast food consisting of hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, deep-fried to perfection, and served with a side of mustard or chutney for dipping. Originating in London in the 18th century, Scottish eggs can also be enjoyed as a quick snack and can be found in pubs throughout Scotland.
10 Bangers and Mash
Bangers and mash is a traditional UK staple pub dish consisting of sausages and mashed potato, served with onion gravy and peas. It may consist of one of a variety of flavored sausages made of pork, lamb, beef, or a meat alternative. They do not taste like American or Italian sausages.
Sausage “bangers” got its name during World War II when quality food was less available. Sausages were made with cheap ingredients and tended to explode during cooking as the water turned to steam.
11 Gelato
Scotland is home to many unique flavors of ice cream and gelato. In particular, independently owned shops have distinctive varieties made with locally sourced ingredients such as lavender or whisky.
12 Shortbread
You can’t leave Scotland without trying the beloved buttery biscuits that it is famous for. These cookie treats are delightful.
13 Porridge
Did you know that porridge originated in Scotland? A favorite staple throughout the years, this traditional breakfast food is not like the type of porridge that most people outside of Scotland think of. Scottish porridge is made with oats, salt instead of sugar, and cooked in milk. It’s thicker than other porridges and savory rather than sweet.
14 Scotch Whisky
When you think about Scotland’s national drink, you no doubt think of whisky! Known for its high quality, visitors can try a variety of single malt flavors during a whisky-tasting tour, from mild to peaty (smoky).
15 Irn Bru
IrnmBru is a Scottish carbonated soft drink, often described as “Scotland’s other national drink.” Introduced in 1901, the drink is produced in Westfield, Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, by A.G. Barr of Glasgow. It tastes quite like American cream soda.
16 Black Pudding
Black pudding is a traditional regional type of blood sausage with a very distinctive flavor, usually made of pork or beef blood mixed in with oatmeal, oatmeal, and spices. It is often served up in a full Scottish breakfast or as a side dish to a meal. Full transparency – it’s not my favorite which is why I don’t have a photo.
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About the Author
Patti Morrow
is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Scotland Folk Tours during her stay, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.
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