25+ Quirky Scottish Recipes

Celebrate St Andrew's Day, Burns Night, Hogmanay or any other Scottish occasion with the collection of recipes with a distinctly Scottish twist. Scotch Beef, Irn Bru, Tunnock's Teacakes, Haggis, Scottish Salmon, Tattie Scones, Whisky, Shortbread, Arbroath Smokies, Scottish Gin and more feature in this roundup of more than 25 quirky Scottish Recipes. 

As Scotland's Patron Saint, poor old St Andrew doesn't always seem to get the attention he deserves. Celebrated on 30th November, St Andrew's Day is often overshadowed by the Burns Night celebrations of 25th January. However in recent years, particularly since 2006 when the Scottish Parliament designated St Andrew's Day as an official bank holiday, there has been somewhat of a resurgence in celebrations surrounding the date. In honour of the event I've pulled together a roundup of over 25 of my recipes with a particularly Scottish slant. 

Scottish Cullen Skink Crepes

Celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a Scottish twist. Taking all the flavours of a traditional Cullen Skink soup - Smoked Haddock, Potatoes, Leeks and Milk - and using them as a savoury pancake day filling. Say Bonjour to Crepes with a Scottish accent. Much to good to save only for Pancake Day!

For the uninitiated, Cullen Skink possibly doesn't sound the most enticing of foods but I can assure you that it is. Hailing from Cullen, a small fishing village on the North East coast of Scotland, it's a hearty soup made of milk, smoked fish, potatoes and leeks. If you fancy giving it a go head to my recipe for Cullen Skink - A traditional Scottish Smoked Haddock Soup. I'm a huge fan of savoury crepes/pancakes so with pancake day beckoning and purchases of leeks and smoked haddock made at Stonehaven Farmer's Market I decided to combine them both in my Cullen Skink Crepes.

Grandma Monearn's Scotch Pancakes

My granny’s failsafe and prize winning Scotch Pancake recipe. Also known as dropped scones or bannocks. Ideal for pancake day, breakfast, brunch and afternoon tea.

This pancake recipe which was handed down to me by my Grandma appears in various shapes and forms across by blog but really does deserve a post of its own especially with Shrove Tuesday on the horizon. I've written previously about my Granny Jean Benzie, her baking prowess and her involvement as a stalwart of the SWRI. Hush a bye don't you cry, Mammy’s off to the WRI and I've previously shared her failsafe and prizewinning recipes for Shortbread, Ministers Slices and Cornflake Biscuits.

A dozen of my Haggis Recipes for Burns Night

Fancy something a wee bit different than the traditional Haggis, Neeps and Tatties for your Burns Supper celebrations? I've got you covered with this selection of more than a dozen recipes including Pancakes, Meatloaf, Burgers, Dauphinoise, Gnocchi, Waffles, Birls, Shepherd's Pie, Soup, Scotch Eggs, Toasties and even Chocolate Haggis!

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, 

Great chieftain o' the pudding-race! 

Aboon them a' ye tak your place, 

Painch, tripe, or thairm : 

Weel are ye wordy o'a grace 

As lang's my arm. 

Gingerbread Men Rocky Road

A quick, easy and fun traybake that's ideal for kids to help make. The classic Rocky Road takes on a festive twist with the addition of mini Gingerbread Men. Run run as fast as you can - this no bake Christmas treat won't hang around for long. 

I've got a bit of a thing for a certain man who isn't my husband. This man is a Ginger.

Nope not Prince Harry or Ed Sheeran or Ron Weasley (although Tim Minchin - it could be you...)

Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man.

Tunnocks Teacake Christmas Puddings

Such a quick and easy yet super visually impressive no bake Christmas Treat. Perfect for kids to help make. The iconic Scottish Tunnock's Teacake topped with white chocolate and red and green icing becomes a Figgy Pudding!

So today is Stir Up Sunday. The date on which you should traditionally make your Christmas Pudding. If that all seems like a wee bit too much hard work I've got an alternative idea to share. Tunnock's Teacake Christmas Puddings. If you want to stick with tradition I've also blogged my failsafe 7 Cup Pudding Recipe along with a boozy pud from Neil Forbes of Edinburgh's Cafe St Honoré. 

Party Ring Christmas Wreath Iced Biscuits

Christmas Wreath cookies for Santa. Turn kids favourite Party Ring biscuits into edible festive wreaths with the adition of icing and sprinkles. A great fun no bake treat - great for kids to help make.

I am so pleased with the festive food idea that I'm sharing with you today. These Party Ring Christmas Wreaths are so so simple to make but very effective. I actually feel like a wee bit of a fraud sharing a recipe/instructions as once you've seen a photo of them you know exactly what to do. I can't believe that I haven't seen these all over Pinterest, could I really have invented them?! (probably not!)

Drambuie Ice Cream Truffles

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Post in collaboration with Drambuie

There's only three ingredients plus toppings in these decadent ice cream truffles flavoured with Drambuie, Scotland's iconic heather honeyed whisky liqueur. These showstopping truffles do take a wee bit of time and effort but the result is a perfect 5th course 'sobremesa moment', over which friends and family can reconnect.

 

What to drink when dinner is done but the night is still young? With restrictions easing and socialising with friends and family once again on the cards I'm delighted to be working with iconic scottish brand Drambuie to champion its place on the dinner table as part of the fifth course, or as the Spanish call it 'sobremesa'. I must confess that the word sobremesa was new to me but it's concept is not. The literal translation to English is 'over the table'. It's the point in the evening when canapes, starter, main and dessert have all been enjoyed, everyone is relaxed and the conversation is in full flow. The spell would be broken by leaving the table so the moment is extended by a 5th course of special treats such as chocolate, cheese, coffee, petit fours, liqueurs or a combination of all of the above. Drambuie is the perfect accompaniment for such a sharing and pairing moment. 

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties TikTok Wrap

Now that's what I call serious Burns! Jumping firmly on the tik tok wrap hack bandwagon with a Haggis, Neeps and Tatties version for Burns Night. Instead of rolling all the fillings up, the tortilla is folded into quarters making a compact triangle shaped wrap where nothing can escape. Genius!

It had to be done. A Scottish version of the wrap hack that's taken TikTok by storm. I used a ready meal but this would work equally well with leftovers. Haggis (veggie or traditional), Neep (swede) and Tatties (potatoes) with plenty of Scottish Cheddar. Surely the ultimate Scottish toastie for Burns Supper and beyond. Some awesome serving suggestions from my followers included the addition of a whisky cream or peppercorn dipping sauce.

Haggis are of course small four legged creatures that live in the Highlands. They have two legs shorter than the others so they can run around the mountains without toppling over. Catch one yourself by chasing it the opposite way round the mountain or buy a free range one from your butcher.

Scottish Neeps are Turnips, but not wee white new Turnips but rather the large purple skinned yellow/orange Swede.

Tatties are potatoes and must be of the mashed variety.

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties TikTok Wrap

Wrap

Haggis

Mashed Neeps

Mashed Tatties

Scottish Cheddar (grated)

Place your wrap on a chopping board. Take a knife and make a cut from the top to the centre point.

Heat through your haggis, neeps and tatties in the microwave.

Imagine the wrap being divided up into four quarters (like a 4 seasons pizza)

Put haggis in the top left, neeps in the bottom left, tatties bottom right and finally grated scottish cheddar top right.

Fold the wrap starting from the top left left quarter, folding it down over the bottom left, over to the bottom right and finally up to the top right.

Toast in a frying/griddle pan or in a panini press or health grill until the cheese has melted and the wrap is crispy.

Some awesome serving suggestions from my followers included the addition of a whisky cream or peppercorn dipping sauce.

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Peanut Butter and Pretzel Rocky Road

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Post in collaboration with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter

No bake Peanut Butter and Pretzel Rocky Road. Soft and squishy marshmallow combined with crunchy peanut, salty pretzels and creamy chocolate for a taste and texture sensation. Pretzels add an extra crunch to this already decadent yet easy to make peanut butter chocolate tiffin fridge cake.

22nd October 2020 is officially National Nut Day, a full 24 hours to celebrate everything nutty (just in time for my birthday on 23rd October!) For the ultimate ‘peanutty’ enjoyment, America’s famous SKIPPY® Peanut Butter is smooth, creamy and delicious. SKIPPY® Peanut Butter is available in Extra Smooth, ground especially fine so it melts in the mouth, or Extra Crunchy which contains large peanut pieces in a deliciously creamy mix. For this recipe it simply has to be SKIPPY® Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter with an added salty kick from pretzels and salted peanuts. Add in squishy marshmallow and bind it all together with creamy milk chocolate. It's an absolute match made in heaven. You don't even need to look up the flavor thesaurus to know the combination is going to taste awesome. 

SKIPPY® Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana French Toast Elvis Sandwich

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Celebrate the 4th of July with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter. The iconic Elvis Sandwich of peanut butter, banana and bacon is taken to a whole new level of awesomeness when it's dipped in egg and fried to become the SKIPPY® Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana French Toast Elvis Sandwich.  #SKIPPY4July 

Q. Are you ready to celebrate American Independence Day in the UK with the USA’s famous SKIPPY® Peanut Butter?

A. Uh-huh-huh 

The King's love of a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich had become somewhat of an urban legend. Almost to the point where Elvis is as famous for apparently creating it as he is for creating Rock & Roll! How to improve upon such a culinary classic?! Firstly make sure that the Peanut Butter is SKIPPY® and secondly dip the sandwich in beaten egg before frying it so you have an Elvis Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana French Toast Sandwich. An Independence Day snack fit for the king! 

Quick Cucumber Pickles

These super speedy crunchy cucumber pickles are perfect for cutting through rich fatty BBQ meats but you can serve them with literally anything from a sandwich to a charcuterie board. Add some crunch to your plate with this salty, sweet and sour preserve.

My son first made a batch of these pickles for a BBQ get together that we had before he left home to go to Uni last September. They were a big hit then and now that he's back home with us (13 weeks and counting...) he's been making more and I love them so much I'm now making them myself. They are our take on the Damn Fast Awesome Pickles recipe from the epic Grillstock BBQ book. Perfect for cutting through rich fatty BBQ meats but you can serve them with literally anything from a fish finger sandwich to a charcuterie board. 

Microwave Rhubarb Curd

Looking for ways to use up a seasonal glut of rhubarb? When you've had enough rhubarb crumble it's time for Rhubarb Curd. The sharpness of the rhubarb works perfectly as a smooth buttery curd. Enjoy it on toast, scones, meringues, as a sponge cake filling in desserts and more. 

Rhubarb. Rhubarb. Rhubarb. I love the stuff. Literally can't get enough of it. When it's on a menu for desert I can't see past it. For many years I had a small clump in my garden but it never really did very much and only produced a handful of stems, barely enough for an annual crumble. Then we moved it to a different spot and now it flourishes. Another of my loves is curd. For years I thought it only came in lemon however there are a whole range of recipes out there for many more exotic flavours. Here's my Rhubarb version.

Slow Cooked Scotch Beef Chilli Con Carne

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Cook once, eat twice with slow cooked scotch beef chilli con carne. This one pot dish can be made in a slow cooker, oven or on top of the stove - the longer you cook it the better it will be. Once you've tried Scotch beef shin you'll never go back to mince in your chilli con carne. 

Whilst we find ourselves having to stay home I'm delighted to continue to work with The Scotch Kitchen to bring you a Scotch Beef recipe that you can cook once and eat twice (or more!) and/or pop in the freezer. Rather than use mince to make chilli I opted for beef shin which brings a whole new dynamic of flavour and unctuousness to the dish. Once you've tried it you'll never go back to mince in your chilli con carne. 

SKIPPY® Peanut Butter Breakfast Muffins

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Celebrate Peanut Butter Lover's Day on 1st March with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter Breakfast Muffins. Packed full of protein they are the perfect way to start your day. Bite sized, super quick and easy to make and great fun for kids to help with in the kitchen.  Ideal for a grab-and-go breakfast, mid-morning snack or afternoon treat.

1st March 2020 is officially a day for Peanut Butter Lovers, a full 24 hours to celebrate one of the world’s most popular spreads. As a huge fan of peanut butter this is one themed day I can most definitely get behind. For the ultimate ‘peanutty’ enjoyment, America’s original SKIPPY® Peanut Butter has a heritage which spans more than 80 years, is enjoyed by millions stateside and is now on UK supermarket shelves. 

Are you team smooth or team crunchy? I'm crunchy all the way! 

SKIPPY® Peanut Butter offers both with Extra Smooth ground especially fine so it melts in the mouth or Extra Crunchy which contains large peanut pieces in a deliciously creamy mix.

Valentine Rocky Road

A quick, easy and fun Valentine themed traybake that's ideal for kids to help make. The classic Rocky Road takes on a romantic twist with the addition of Love Hearts, Rolos, Lips and Jammie Dodgers. This no bake Chocolate Tiffin is sure to be loved by anyone with a sweet tooth. 

Love is in the air! 14th February is looming so I've got a romantic recipe to share. If I was being a proper food blogger I really should have made and blogged this Valentine Recipe weeks ago but as per usual it's totally last minute. But why restrict your love to just one day of the year? This will taste good at anytime! My Christmas Gingerbread Man Rocky Road was a huge success as is the perennial favourite of Scotland in a Traybake aka Tunnock's Teacake Rocky Road. What could I add to the chocolate, biscuit and marshmallow comb to signify true love?

Haggis Neeps and Tatties Dauphinoise

Creamy dauphinoise potatoes with a touch of Burns. Layers of Scotland's holy trinity - haggis, neeps and tatties - combine to make a dish worthy of The Bard himself. Great with either traditional or vegetarian haggis. Serve with a dram and celebrate Burns Night in style. Gie her a haggis!

Tis the season for Haggis. Truth be told it's never out of season in this household but it always springs to prominence around Burns Night. (25th January for the uninitiated). I made Haggis Neeps and Tatties Dauphinoise for Burns Night last year but never got around to blogging the recipe. Time to rectify that oversight. The result definitely needs to be added to my Top 10 Haggis Recipes for Burns Night. 

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care, 

And dish them out their bill o' fare, 

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware 

That jaups in luggies; 

But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer 

Gie her a haggis!

Spooky Halloween Fudge

With only two ingredients (plus spooky toppings) and no tricky temperatures or boiling hot sugar required, this microwave Halloween Fudge is quick and easy to make. The ideal sweet treat for trick and treaters this Halloween and great fun to make with the kids.

I couldn't let Halloween go past without posting a version of two ingredient fudge. It's previous incarnations for Christmas, Valentines and Easter have all been really popular so it was time for a spooky variation. With only two ingredients, no tricky temperatures or boiling hot sugar required, microwave fudge is quick and easy to make. Once you’ve mastered it you can adapt the toppings to suit the occasion and personal preference. You can make it with white, milk or dark chocolate. I use supermarket own brand which works just fine. More expensive chocolate may be even better, I just haven’t tried it! You can also make it in a bowl over boiling water if you don’t have a microwave.

12 Marvellous Mince Meals - Beef, Pork, Lamb

A dozen marvellous mince meals perfect for weeknights. Ring the changes with minced beef, lamb or pork. Quick, easy and affordable to make these mince recipes are sure to become family favourites. Curry, meatballs, burgers, meatloaf, chilli, pasta, pies and more. Packed full of global flavours from Thailand, India, Greece, Mexico and Scotland. 

It's most definitely Autumn. The equinox has passed, there's a chill in the air, the leaves are turning and it's time for comfort food. At my community cookery class this week we made mince, tatties and doughballs - surely the ultimate comfort food. Mince is such a versatile ingredient whether it be beef, pork or lamb. To give you some inspiration for weeknight meals now that the nights are drawing in I've pulled together a dozen of my marvellous mince recipes. Many of them will be interchangeable with regards to the meat in question so feel free to mix up your mince. 

Banana, Strawberry and Honey Muffins

Savour the sweet taste of summer in a simple and delicious recipe for Banana, Strawberry and Honey Muffins. No added sugar required as the fruit and honey provides the sweetness. An ideal 'Love Food Hate Waste' recipe for using up bananas - the blacker the better. 

One of my favourite things about the Chapelton 10k in 2018 (apart from the fab medal) was the fantastic selection of homebakes available after the race for the runners. Having signed up to take part again in 2019 (I’d clearly forgotten about THE HILL) I wanted to contribute something for the refreshment table so whipped up a couple of batches of Banana, Strawberry and Honey Muffins the night before the race. Earlier in the year I'd visited Castleton Fruit Farm with Brian from Cove Honey Bees so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine strawberries, honey and the runners favourite banana, in a post run treat.