It’s Burns’ Season, Make it Special, Make it with McCaskie’s

Burns’ season is fast approaching on the 25th January where Scots around the world celebrate the work of Robert Burns.

Even if you’re not a Burns enthusiast it’s a great excuse to enjoy a haggis, Scotland’s National Dish made famous by his Address to a Haggis. It’s also great fun to attempt the address and see how you get on. Read the full text and translation of Address to a Haggis.

Here, Nigel answers some of the most asked questions we get asked about haggis.

What actually is Haggis?

Haggis is a blend of cooked offal (heart, lung and liver, either beef, lamb or pork) minced or chopped with fat and a blend of oatmeal, onion and seasoning soaked in the stock from the cooking of the offal.

Is it served in the sheep’s stomach?

No. Today it’s more commonly sold in a plastic casing or for the natural chieftain haggis which is filled into a cleaned intestine/gut of a cow.

Which Haggis is better? A plastic casing haggis or natural casing?

This is a good question. If you’re doing a traditional address to a haggis, whether to a small or large crowd, then it really has to be in the natural casing. You have to be much more careful when cooking a natural haggis as they can burst more easily than the plastic casing.

Tip: Wrap in foil or in a cooking bag.

You also have to remember that natural casing has its own flavour which does make the haggis taste slightly stronger. I personally would prefer to eat from a plastic casing but the natural one is more aesthetically pleasing.

What is the best way to cook a Haggis?

If it’s a natural casing it’s best to wrap it in foil or place it in a cooking bag and tie with string. This protects the skin and if it does burst saves the haggis.

Step 1: Bring a pot of water to a boil.
Step 2: Pop your haggis into the water and bring back to a simmer
Step 3: Simmer for 45 -60 minutes for the first 500g, then simply add 20 mins per 500g or 40 minutes per additional Kg.

So a 1.5Kg Natural Haggis would take 1 hour 40minutes.

Your haggis can also cook in the oven which is much easier. Simply fill an oven tray with cold water and place your haggis into the tray and cover the whole with foil and cook for the same time scale above.

If just a small haggis, I would cut a slit and place a large knob of butter in the haggis, wrap in foil and cook in the oven. Also if it’s just a small haggis it’s ready in 6 minutes in the microwave; just add a knob of butter and cover with cling film. Cook for 3 minutes, stir, cover and in another 3 minutes it’s ready!

What would you drink with Haggis?

A wee dram of Scotch Whisky is traditionally drunk while toasting the haggis. If it’s a large meal with haggis I think a Rioja or Tempranillo works very well or dark ale.

Final question and maybe most important – Why a McCaskie’s Haggis?

With so many haggis options available at all price points why order a McCaskie’s haggis?

Our haggis has taken over 20 years to perfect and our final recipe has won many if not all of the top accolades that haggis can win in recent years. Here are some of the awards:

• 2014 Great taste award 2 stars
• 2015/16 West of Scotland Champion & Scotland’s National Craft Butcher Champion
• 2016/17 West of Scotland Champion & 3rd Place overall
• 2018/19 West of Scotland Champion & Reserve National Champion
• 2015/17/19 Oban Haggis Festival Judges Golden Haggis Award
• 2015/16/17/18 Oban Haggis Festival – People’s Choice Champion judged by the general public

 

Our haggis is made with lamb’s offal, mixed with 3 different oatmeals and a lot of different spices. It’s very well balanced between offal and spice and has a rich creaminess that many others just don’t have. The aftertaste is pleasant and the spice continues to linger.
Every ingredient is weighed every time and every drop of stock that’s produced goes back into the haggis. Always the same – always!

There are many ways to enjoy a McCaskie’s haggis and we also do a lovely homemade MEAT FREE haggis made with oatmeal, spices and a blend of pulses and vegetables.

View all McCaskie’s Burns Night products and order online.