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| | THIS SCEPTRED ISLE Are Scotch eggs really Scottish? - THE practice of encasing a pre-cooked egg in forcemeat developed not in Scotland but in North Africa. The technique made its way Britain via France and was first recorded in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. Scotch eggs were originally spiked with cloves and highly spiced in an attempt to sweeten the often putrefying meat. The term itself is obscure but may come, though I doubt it, from a corruption of the word 'scorch' (which in Elizabethan times had ribald associations). The first Scotch eggs were cooked over a naked flame, after all. For more about Scotch eggs and Algerian cookery see Colin Cutler's excellent book, 1001 Strange Things (Beaver Books, 1970).
Ali Mignot, London SW1.
- ACCORDING to A Caledonian Feast by Annette Hope (Grafton Books, 1989), Scotch eggs were an Indian export in the early 19th century, along with curry and kedgeree. The dish was first mentioned by Meg Dods, circa 1830, in one of her recipe collections. Annette Hope continues: 'It bears an odd similarity _ striking though probably coincidental _ with an Indian dish called nargis kofta, which consists of hard-boiled eggs coated with cooked spiced minced mutton and fried, then cut in half and served in a sauce of curried tomato and onion' (Page 251).
Lynda Bowen, Nottingham.
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THE practice of encasing a pre-cooked egg in forcemeat developed not in Scotland but in North Africa. The technique made its way Britain via France and was first recorded in England during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Are Scotch eggs actually Scottish? ›
If you haven't had a Scotch egg before, it is a pub and picnic food delicacy you should try. However, don't be fooled. A Scotch egg is actually of English origin (Yorkshire). First, no self-respecting Scot would use the term Scotch for anything other than whisky.
What country invented Scotch eggs? ›
The Scotch Egg requires no introduction; but the origins of this delicious snack are a source of much debate. It is said to have been invented in 1738 by the London department store Fortnum & Mason of Piccadilly. They could, however, have been influenced by the Mughlai dish nargisi kofta ("Narcissus meatballs").
Do they have Scotch eggs in America? ›
But while these hearty snacks have been served at picnics, pubs and corner stores in the United Kingdom since the late 18th century, the Scotch egg's modish repute stateside is a fairly recent phenomenon. Why, then, has it become one of the hottest rising trends on American menus?
Are Scotch eggs good or bad for you? ›
Scotch eggs are not specifically good for weight loss, but they are a relatively low-calorie and filling snack. Each egg has about 150 calories, and they are generally high in protein and fiber. This makes them a good option for people looking for a healthy snack that will help them stay full between meals.
Do Irish people eat Scotch eggs? ›
To help you eat like the Irish do, we're happy to share an authentic Irish egg dish with you: Scotch eggs. While this recipe supposedly originates from England, Scotch eggs are very popular in Irish restaurants.
Are Scotch eggs popular in England? ›
Scotch egg, a traditional British dish consisting of a shelled hard-boiled egg that is wrapped in sausage, covered in breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried or baked until crispy. It is a popular pub and picnic dish and is commonly served cold in Britain. The Scotch egg has competing origin stories.
Are Scotch eggs served hot or cold? ›
Scotch eggs can be found served hot in pubs and restaurants, although they are most well-known served cold as a convenient snack from the fridge, and on picnics.
Does Scotch mean Scottish? ›
Scotch is an adjective in English, meaning "of or from Scotland". Many Scots dislike the term Scotch and some consider it offensive. The modern usage in Scotland is Scottish or Scots, and the word Scotch is now only applied to specific products, mostly food or drink, such as Scotch whisky, Scotch pie and Scotch broth.
Do Scotch eggs have to be deep-fried? ›
We've made the popular scotch egg recipe much healthier than the classic version by baking them, instead of deep-frying in oil. We've made the popular scotch egg recipe much healthier than the classic version by baking them, instead of deep-frying in oil.
Serve your Scotch eggs with your favorite dipping sauces (mustard sauce is classic). And some good chutney and English pickled onions are always welcome accompaniments.
What is another name for a Scotch egg? ›
In the Netherlands and Belgium, Scotch eggs may also be called vogelnestje ("little bird's nest"), because they contain an egg. One 1880s Scottish recipe also calls them birds' nests.
Can you eat unrefrigerated Scotch eggs? ›
Next to sandwiches, Scotch eggs are the ideal picnic food. Serving it at room temperature or cold is just fine. You can eat it whole, halved, quartered or slice or even as a filling in your sandwiches and get the best of both worlds.
Should you keep Scotch eggs in the fridge? ›
Cooked Scotch Eggs will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you are preparing Scotch Eggs in advance and want to store them until you're ready to cook, you can store Uncooked Scotch Eggs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can freeze Scotch eggs for around three months.
Why can't you freeze Scotch eggs? ›
We wouldn't recommend freezing these, as the texture of the egg will likely be affected.
Do Scottish people eat Scotch eggs? ›
You may be surprised to discover that London department store Fortnum & Mason claim to have invented the Scotch Egg in 1738. There are several theories on the origin of this delicacy, but none of them point to Scotland. So although it is much enjoyed throughout Scotland, the Scotch Egg is not actually Scottish.
Are Scotch Irish Scottish or Irish? ›
Scotch-Irish or Scots-Irish may refer to: Ulster Scots people, an ethnic group in Ulster, Ireland, who trace their roots to settlers from Scotland. Scotch-Irish Americans, descendants of Ulster Scots who first migrated to America in large numbers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Is Scotch beef from Scotland? ›
When you see the UK GI badge with Scotch Beef logo, you can be confident that all cattle were born, reared and processed in Scotland and hold whole life quality assurance. Those in our supply chain are the linchpin when it comes to consistently producing traceable, local and quality assured beef.
Is egg in a cup a Scottish thing? ›
It's one of those staples of the Scottish breakfast table that you never really know is Scottish or not. With boiled egg, butter and salt (and pepper if you want) added to a cup or mug and mashed together and usually served with toast, it has different names depending on where you are from.
