Traditional Scottish Recipes for a Burns Night Menu (and All About Burns Night) (2024)

Burns Night is a special time for Scots. It consists of certain traditional Scottish recipes, and I’ve done all the work for you and put most Burns Night recipes here in one place. You can also learn all you need to know about a Burns Night supper!

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What is Burns Night? What is a Burns Supper?

Have you ever heard of Scotland’s National Poet: Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns? He is the reason for the celebration of Burns Night on January 25th (his birthday). It’s an evening of celebration in honor of this famous Scottish writer and poet which includes the piping in of the haggis, poetry readings, whisky drinking and a Scottish supper (dinner).

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The piping in of the haggis is a central part of the evening where a piper leads the haggis into the dining room from the kitchen, to begin the recitation of “Address to a Haggis”, by Robert Burns. A Scot usually “addresses the haggis” and then plunges a knife into the haggis during the recital of the famous poem.

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What is Haggis?

All this talk about haggis won’t mean anything to you if you’ve never heard of it before. Haggis is not for the faint of heart (no pun intended) as it contains sheep’s heart, liver and lungs IN THE UK. It’s typically prepared and then put into a sheep’s stomach, which gives it its unappealing look. However, if you’re brave enough to give it a try, I bet you’ll find (like many others have) that it’s delicious!

In the US, you’ll have to go with a tinned version like this, because the real deal contains sheep’s lung which is banned in the States (since 1971). Don’t get me started on this because banning a natural product makes no sense to me when so many ingredients ARE allowed which are banned outside of the US!

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What are Neeps and Tatties?

During a traditional Burns Night supper, haggis, neeps and tatties (haggis, turnips (UK)/rutabagas (US) and potatoes are served as the main course.

Learn more about Scottish poet Robert Burns with this book.

How Does a Burns Night Supper Begin?

Before the meal begins, Selkirk Grace (which Burns either wrote or is attributed to him) is recited:

Some hae meat, and cannae eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
but we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.

My unprofessional translation:

Some have meat and cannot eat,
And some would eat that want it,
but we have meat and we can eat
So let us thank the Lord.

What Happens After Grace?

The starter is served, then the haggis is carried in on a tray following a piper who “pipes in the haggis”. The host recites Address to a Haggis, which includes cutting into the haggis with a theatrical air, and everyone gives a toast to the haggis. The main meal is then served, followed by dessert which you can read about below.

What do you eat on Burns Night?

Typically, Cullen skink (smoked haddock chowder) or co*ck-a-leekie (chicken, leek and rice) soup is served to start the meal. This is followed by haggis, neeps and tatties or roast beef. The dessert is most likely to be cranachan, a raspberry, oat, cream and whisky concoction, or typsy laird, a boozy Scottish trifle. The meal may end with a cheese course, naturally, serving Scottish cheese. (Recipe links are below.)

End of the Burns Night Supper

There are other traditional parts of the evening, including a toast to the lassies and more, but at the end of the night, the event closes with everyone singing Auld Lang Syne. The cup below is called a quaich, a traditional Scottish cup used to signify love, friendship and trust.

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Here’s a fun idea from reader MJ ~ Fun tip: Have a Scotch whisky tasting
and make attendees read aloud Burn’s poems. Hilarity will ensue!

What is on a Traditional Burns Night Menu?

Soup

Cullen Skink

or

co*ck-a-Leekie Soup

Main Course for a Burns Night Menu

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties

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Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Stack

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or

– Balmoral Chicken

Chicken Braemar

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or

Roast Beef

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Dessert for a Burns Night Menu

Cranachan

or

Cranachan Parfait (a twist on the traditional recipe)

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Typsy Laird

Cheese Course

– Dunlop or Scottish Cheddar served with Oatcakes

Shortbread or Petticoat Tails and Whisky

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My friend Janice has a haggis, neeps and tatties pie which is great to use up any leftovers from your Burns night supper!

Lang may yer lum reek!

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Traditional Scottish Recipes for a Burns Night Menu (and All About Burns Night) (2024)

FAQs

What do Scots eat on Burns Night? ›

Serve up a Scottish supper to remember with a classic smoked fish soup and the essential haggis, neeps and tatties - all rounded off with a traditional clootie dumpling. Delicious!

What dish is served at Burns Night? ›

Main course: Haggis, neeps and tatties

Love it or loathe it, haggis is the dish at the heart of Burns Night. Try this simple recipe for haggis, neeps and tatties and follow our guide to buying and cooking the perfect haggis.

What do Scots drink on Burns Night? ›

A staple part of Scottish culture, having a glass or two of whisky to celebrate is a must. Here at NIO co*cktails, we have several pre-mixed whisky co*cktail gift sets featuring 4 wonderful co*cktails from award-winning whiskey brands to savour and enjoy, such as Singleton Scotch Whisky co*cktails.

Why is haggis banned in the US? ›

In 1971, it became illegal to import haggis into the US from the UK due to a ban on food containing sheep lung, which constitutes 10–15% of the traditional recipe. The ban encompasses all lungs, as fluids such as stomach acid and phlegm may enter the lung during slaughter.

What do Scots say on Burns Night? ›

Many celebrating Burns Night look to embrace the Scottish Gaelic. People traditionally greet each other with the phrase "Sláinte Mhath!" which translates to "Good Health!" - it's pronounced "slanj'-uh va'". If you want to directly translate the words "Happy Burns Night" you could try "Oidhche Bhlas Burns".

What dessert do you eat on Burns Night? ›

Cranachan. A classic Scottish dessert, cranachan is a beautiful medley of double cream, toasted oats, raspberries, honey and a great big slosh of whisky. It's the perfect ending to a Burns Night feast.

What is said before guests eat their meal on Burns Night? ›

Selkirk Grace is a poem commonly attributed to Robert Burns, a widely celebrated Scottish poet. It's often used on Burn's night as a giving of thanks before guests tuck into their Burn's night dinner.

What is neeps made of? ›

Well, “neeps” is just the Scots word for swede – that hard winter vegetable that people also use in soups and stews. You might also hear Scottish people saying “nips”, which is much more obviously short for “turnips”. It's a hard job to peel and chop the neeps, and then we boil and mash, then add a bit of seasoning.

What do Scottish drink the most? ›

Irn-Bru has long been the most popularly consumed soft drink in Scotland, consistently beating rivals such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Fanta, and reportedly sells 20 cans every second throughout Scotland.

What is the Scottish drink heavy? ›

Heavy is a type of Scottish ale. Scottish ales are generally darker and much maltier than English ales, with much less noticeable hop flavour. Heavy is the usual beer served in Scottish pubs.

What do you toast on Burns Night? ›

After the meal, the speeches and entertainment begin in earnest, starting with a toast to the monarch, known as the Loyal Toast. This is followed by the main toast of the night, to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns. The Immortal Memory should be a heartfelt toast to his life and works.

What do Scots eat for Christmas dinner? ›

Roast turkey is the traditional main course.

What do Scots eat with haggis? ›

It's most commonly served with neeps (mashed turnip) and tatties (mashed potato) and washed down with a wee dram of your favourite whisky. Haggis is a versatile ingredient – it can be used to make a stuffing for poultry and game, or fried up for breakfast like crumbled black pudding.

What is haggis made of? ›

haggis, the national dish of Scotland, a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep (or other animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices. The mixture is packed into a sheep's stomach and boiled.

References

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