How to cook haggis (2024)

Scotland's best known speciality, haggis, is a mystery to most non-Scots and the focus of lots of jokes about shooting and hunting the wee beastie haggis. It's made from 'sheep's pluck' - the finely chopped liver, heart and lungs, mixed with oatmeal, suet, herbs, spices and seasoning, packed into a natural casing (traditionally sheep intestines), which is not eaten, then boiled.

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For the ultimate selection of Scottish-inspired recipes, see our Burns Night collection and Burns Night drink recipes, or create a traditional Burns Night feast with our classic Burns Night menu. Read our guide on what is haggis for more information on this Scottish meat pudding.

How to prepare haggis

Shop-bought haggis comes ready-cooked, so the only prep it needs is reheating so that it's piping hot when served.

What's the best way to cook haggis?

There are various ways to cook haggis, depending on how much time you have or the desired texture:

How to boil haggis in water

Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the haggis and reduce to a simmer. Time according to weight – McLays recommends boiling a 1kg natural-cased haggis for an hour and 15 minutes. To serve, carefully slit open the casing and tip the filling onto a plate.

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How to bake haggis in the oven

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the outer packaging, prick with a fork and wrap in foil as you would a baked potato, then cook in the oven an hour per 450g. Serve as above.

Make our traditional baked haggis for Burns Night. Or, try our vegan haggis recipe for a veggie alternative.

How to serve haggis

Serve hot with neeps & tatties and whisky cream sauce. Haggis also works well with leeks or carrots. For pudding, follow your haggis main with our clootie dumpling or another classic Scottish dessert, cranachan.

How to cook haggis (2)

The history of haggis

Its origins are shrouded in obscurity, although it is known to be an ancient dish, as 15th century recipes mention a haggis or haggas pudding. The name may come from the Scandinavian 'hag', meaning to hack or chop, or from the Anglo-Saxon 'haecan' - to hack into pieces. Another explanation is that it comes from the French 'hachis', or the Icelandic 'hoggva', also meaning to hack or chop.

Where to buy haggis

If you don't live near a traditional Scottish butcher, try one of these online alternatives, or alternatively ask at your local supermarket:

Macsween is one of the biggest haggis brands in Scotland. They have a wealth of options online, including a vegetarian version, haggis canapes and venison haggis, from around £5. Order from the Macsween site.

Glasgow-based butcher McLays make traditional haggis in natural casing. Prices start at £6.50. Order from the McLays site.

Ayrshire butcher Pollok Williamson sell a range of haggis from £1.49, including chip shop-friendly haggis sausages specially shaped for deep-frying, should you be feeling particularly decadent. Order from the Pollok Williamson site.

The Blackface Meat Company sell haggis celebration boxes. We like their recommendation of using any leftovers in stuffing. Order from the Blackface site.

What to look for when buying haggis

The best haggis is moist, firm and flavoursome. Every Scottish butcher has his or her own recipe, made according to the basic recipe, which has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, with the addition of their own exclusive blend of seasonings, herbs and spices.

Serving haggis at Burns Night

Haggis is really thrown into the spotlight around Burns Night. Several tons of haggis are exported throughout the world for celebration suppers, including modern variations such as smoked haggis and a vegetarian haggis made with oatmeal, vegetarian suet, lentils, beans, nuts, carrots, onions and other vegetables packed into a synthetic casing. Surprisingly, haggis is very popular in France, where it is served in top Parisian restaurants!

How to cook haggis (3)

Enjoyed these haggis tips? See more Burns Night recipes

Burns Night recipes
Classic Burns Night menu
Everything you need for Burns Night
What is haggis?
Our best ever Burns Night co*cktails

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Do you love or loathe this Scottish delicacy? Leave a comment below...

How to cook haggis (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook haggis? ›

Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the haggis and reduce to a simmer. Time according to weight – McLays recommends boiling a 1kg natural-cased haggis for an hour and 15 minutes. To serve, carefully slit open the casing and tip the filling onto a plate.

What is the best way to cook haggis from frozen? ›

Cook in water

There are different ways to cook your Haggis, however, the traditional way is by wrapping it tightly with tinfoil and placing it in a simmering (NOT boiling) pot of water. It will take approximately 60 minutes to cook (from frozen) or 45 minutes (from thawed).

What is haggis made of answer? ›

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.

How to cook haggis in air fryer ninja foodi? ›

Method
  1. Remove the haggis from the outer bag but keep in the casing and clips.
  2. Put the haggis in an air fryer liner and make a large slice across the top of the haggis casing.
  3. Cook the haggis for 10 mins at 190.
  4. Remove the haggis from the air fryer and carefully remove the haggis from its casing.

Can you cook haggis in a frying pan? ›

Cut the haggis into 8 thick slices. Set a frying pan on a medium heat. When warm, drizzle in some olive oil and place in the haggis slices. Fry for 3-4 mins on each side till browned, crisp and warmed all the way through.

How long to cook haggis in the oven in foil? ›

In the oven*

Wrap the haggis in foil, put in an ovenproof dish with some space around it, then pour in boiling water so it comes about 2.5cm (1in) up the sides of the dish. Cook for about 1 hour 45 mins until piping hot throughout (topping up water as needed). Remove skin and clips before serving.

Why wrap haggis in foil? ›

So all you have to do is heat it up until it's pipping hot. Wrapping it in foil first helps to contain the contents if you are unlucky enough to burst it. Don't cook it at too high a temperature. Haggis prefer a wet, steamy heat to a dry one, so if you have a double pan steamer or steam oven, use that.

How to tell if haggis is cooked? ›

Place contents into microwave container. Cover and heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally with a. Larger haggis may take longer. Always ensure it is piping hot with a core temperature of 75 degrees C.

Is haggis healthy? ›

Haggis is usually quite healthy if eaten traditionally as a main meal as it's accompanied by mashed boiled potatoes and turnips. *Haggis does have a high saturated fat and salt content so people should be mindful of portion sizes.

Why is haggis so good? ›

According to the 2001 English edition of the Larousse Gastronomique: "Although its description is not immediately appealing, haggis has an excellent nutty texture and delicious savoury flavour".

What do you eat haggis with? ›

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's a full Scottish breakfast? ›

So, what is a full Scottish breakfast? Usually made up of bacon, link sausages, Lorne sausage (also known as square sausage or slice), black pudding, haggis, baked beans, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, toast, tattie scones and fried eggs, the full Scottish breakfast is a sight to behold.

What is the best cooking method for haggis? ›

Preheat the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Remove the outer packaging from the haggis then prick all over with a fork, wrap in foil like a baked potato and bake in the oven for 1 hour. To serve, split open the haggis with a sharp knife and spoon the contents over neeps and tatties or serve separately.

Is haggis cooked when you buy it? ›

To prepare: Haggis is sold cooked and just needs to be reheated. To cook: Haggis requires gentle reheating until piping hot right through. There are three ways to reheat, but check the pack instructions first as cooking times may vary according to size.

Can you air fry sliced haggis? ›

Air Fryer: Remove the haggis from the pack. Place in the air fryer compartment and cook on the air fry setting at 180°C for approx. 6 mins. Flip the slices halfway through the cooking time.

What is the traditional way to eat 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.

How to cook haggis from a supermarket? ›

Wrap the haggis in foil to help protect it. Place in an ovenproof dish and fill with water until half the haggis is underwater. Check water level from time to time during cooking and top up as necessary. Cook in a preheated oven for 75 minutes (190°c gas mark 5).

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