The 6 Most Unique Food in Scotland That You Cannot Try Elsewhere

If you ask people about what is famous in Scotland, many will think of the Loch Ness Monster, their musical culture, whisky distilleries, bagpipes, beautiful scenery and lochs. While we are not denying these answers, we would like to inquire, what about the food in Scotland? Is it not worth mentioning? Yes, your mind may immediately think of haggis and only haggis. However, foods in Scotland consist of much more than their dish of sheep liver, heart and lungs. 

Home to vast seas and fertile lands, Scotland provides chefs and diners with a wide array of natural products like seafood, veggies and fruits. For example, haddocks, potatoes and raspberries play a massive part in the food in Scotland, so it is bold to assume that their food is only limited to haggis. Today, this listicle will educate you about the 6 unique foods in Scotland that you cannot try elsewhere.

Related: Top 5 must-try foods when you go to Qatar

6 Unique Foods in Scotland

Haggis with Neeps and Tatties

Haggis is the iconic national dish of Scotland, so it is customary knowledge people elsewhere know about it. Consisting of minced sheep’s lung, heart, and liver mixed with seasonings, oatmeals and onions, it is not a dish for the faint-hearted. Furthermore, it is then wrapped in a sheep’s stomach and boiled before serving.

While haggis serves as the limelight, neeps and tatties are the background supporting it. While the term sounds exotic, neeps and tatties are just mashed-up potatoes and turnips you can find in many other foods in Scotland. It may be less appealing after knowing, but it is definitely a must-try food in Scotland. However, we would recommend ordering a whisky if you are a first-timer.

Cullen Skink

Scottish people love smoked haddock and potatoes, and Cullen Skink combines the two with a touch of onion. Furthermore, it comes with a side dish of toasted bread when served. Reminds you of Clam chowder, right?

Originating in the northeastern part of Scotland in a small village named Cullen, this smoke fish soup may sound disgusting, but it is one of the tastiest soups in the world. It is not a joke, as TasteAtlas ranked it as the 3rd best soup in the world. While our palates may not compare to professional tasters, the only way to know is to try it.

Tablet

No, this is not the tablet you take for medication or tablet devices. In Scotland, tablet is a small, sweet snack made with sugar, condensed milk, and butter. It is a medium-hard, sugary confection that Scottish people love. 

The recipe is simple but hard to master as newcomers often burnt it due to their lack of experience in stirring it. However, when it does come out perfect, it is the best food in Scotland to pair with ice cream. You can also eat it as a single treat because vanilla and whisky are often flavouring for tablets.

Deep-Fried Mars Bar

If you do not know already, the foods in Scotland are unique. The deep-fried Mars bar is another one of their inventions, as the creator of this deep-fried endorphin rush, John Davie, created it as a challenge for his friends to eat. 

Furthermore, he himself claims to have never tried his own creation and never will due to his distaste for chocolate. We can see why — this 1200-calorie treat is a subject of heavy criticism due to its unhealthiness. Imagine intaking battered chocolate deep-fried with oil. We still recommend trying it but not without caution for diabetes.

Cock-A-Leekie

Chill out, everyone. Cock-a-leekie is not a reference or a food involving the male genitalia counterpart. It is actually the prized national soup of Scotland despite originating from France. This soup is the Scottish take on the chicken and onion soup in France by exchanging the onion for leeks.

This change only further improves the soup, as the soup is known for its pleasant mild flavour and excellent aroma. The combination of peppered chicken stock and leeks, thickened with rice or barley, is the perfect warmer for a cold day in Scotland. While you may find some restaurants serving it with prunes, do not be alarmed, as the original recipe does consist of prunes. The chefs are just following their traditions.

Cranachan 

What better way to end the list than with a dessert? As everyone says, there is always an extra stomach for desserts. Thus, feast your eyes on Cranachan. It is the traditional dessert of Scotland and has the title of the undisputed king of Scottish desserts. 

Cranachan is a dessert made out of cream and freshly seasonal raspberries bolstered by Scottish oats and whisky. Initially, the dessert is a celebration of the successful harvest of raspberries in August. The dessert then became a mainstay on Christmas and other special occasions. Nowadays, you can try this delicacy anywhere in Scotland. Some places even let you assemble the dessert yourself.

Final Remarks

It has been a long time, but food in Scotland still has not received the recognition it deserves. While some food on the list may not suit the taste buds of everyone, it is vital to know and respect the love Scottish people put into their food. As the saying goes, there is no more sincerer love than the love for food.