Haggis on Burns Night

At the Gourmet Fusion store we offer a variety of international foods and kitchen products - some of them are well known items, and others are well, more unusual! One of the products we sell both online and in our store is Scottish Haggis in a can. This has been very popular as a gift for a Scottish friend, and even I suspect, as a joke, as I am not sure it really appeals to the American palate!

What is Burns Night and what has it got to do with Haggis? The Burns supper is usually held on or near January 25th, the birthday of the poet, Robert Burns, author of such great poems as "Auld Lang Syne", which is sung at Hogmanay and other New Year celebrations around the world. On Burns Night, Haggis is always eaten, and often it makes grand entrance while someone plays the bagpipes.

Anyone can celebrate Burns Night, but the three main ingredients are the haggis, yellow turnips (rutabaga), and potatoes. The turnips are either boiled and mashed with butter and seasoning, or they may be mixed in equal quantities with boiled potatoes to make an Orkney clapshot.

If you would like to create your own Burns night, Gourmet Fusion offers other Scottish products, including a Scottish Recipes Dish Towel, that has the following recipe on how to make your own haggis (or if you prefer, you can simply buy the can of Stahly Quality Haggis). Either way, it's fun to read about. Believe me, the more you read about it, the more bizarre it sounds. The dinner begins with the Selkirk Grace (also shown on the dish towel).

The Selkirk Grace

Some ha'e meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we ha'e meat, and we can eat,
And sae let the Lord be thankit.

Haggis

Scotland's celebrated dish traditionally eaten at Burns Suppers and St Andrews Night Dinners. Hailed by Burns as the Great Chieftain o'the puddin' race.

Made from sheeps pluck, heart, lights, and liver, cooked then chopped and mixed with suet, oatmeal, and seasonings. Stuffed into sheep's paunch and boiled. Served with Chappit Tatties (mashed potatoes), and Neeps (mashed turnips), accompanied with large drinks of whisky.

Our dish towel also shows more great recipes such as Cloutie Dumpling, Scotch pancakes, Cock-A-Leekie soup, and Tweed Kettle.