On behalf of all the Denvirites we hope you have a fantastic Burns Night (or Happy Haggis Day as we call it). Just in case you fancy a change from tradition, why not try some of these tasty twists on our national dish.
Rest assured, they have all been thoroughly taste tested in the office already!
Burns Night Haggis Recipes 2018 – #1 of 4: Haggis Spaghetti Bolognese (Serves 4)
Bringing together these Scottish and Italian classics could not be easier this Burns Night. Just follow the steps below and you’ll have a delicious new take on two tried-and-tested favourites:
Main Ingredients
250g Beef Mince (or preferred meat)
250g Haggis
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes (400g)
1 Large Onion (diced)
1 Garlic Cloves (diced)
1 Tsp Oregano (or to taste)
Pinch Salt & Pepper (to taste)
400g Spaghetti
Optional Extras
Fresh Basil Leaves (for garnish)
Garlic Bread (on the side)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl add your mince and haggis and mix together with your hands.
- After washing hands, heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and begin to cook the diced onion and garlic.
- As the onion begins to soften add in the mince and haggis mix to the pan and cook through
- Once the meat has cooked, add in the chopped tomatoes and oregano, mixing through the meat.
- Let the Bolognese simmer for 2-3 minutes, and then taste.
- The wonderful thing about Haggis Bolognese is that the Haggis adds wonderful flavours, but you can add more salt and pepper to taste at this stage if you wish.
- Turn down the heat and let the Bolognese simmer for a further 5-7 minutes. Meanwhile boil the spaghetti as per the package instructions.
- Once the spaghetti is cooked and drained, dish into bowls and spoon the Bolognese on top.
- Optionally, garnish with basil leaves and serve with garlic bread on the side.
Quick Tip: Go ahead and use a store-bought Bolognese sauce if you need a great meal fast. We won’t tell anyone!
Vegetarian Version: To make this dish veggie friendly just swap in 400g Veggie Haggis, or 200g Veggie Haggis and 200g vegetarian mince.
Burns Night Haggis Recipes 2018 – #2 of 4: Haggis Burger (Serves 4)
Beef up Burns Night this year with this epic Haggis Burger! Discover how the subtle spice of Haggis adds another dimension to even the most basic burger. Just follow the steps below:
Main Ingredients
4 Burger Buns
400g Beef Mince (or preferred meat)
400g Haggis
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Optional Extras
1 Beef Tomato (sliced)
1 Large Onion (sliced)
1 Lettuce (or 4 leaves)
4 Cheddar Slices
Pickles / Gherkins
Ketchup / Mustard / Mayo / Salt / Pepper (to taste)
Chips / Fries / Wedges (on the side)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl add your mince and haggis and mix together with your hands. The Haggis adds delicious seasoned flavour, but feel free to add salt and pepper to taste.
- Once well mixed, split the mixed meat into even portions for each person.
- Roll each portion into a ball, then press out flat to form burgers that are approx. 2cm thick, and slightly wider than the burger buns as the cooked meat will shrink a little.
- After washing hands, heat the olive oil in a frying pan, once hot add the burgers to the pan.
- The trick to cooking great burgers is to only turn them once, so allow them to cook through half way before flipping. You can check underneath the burger by lifting with a spatula.
- While the burgers are cooking on the first side, preheat the grill, and slice your burger buns.
- Once you flip the burgers, while they cook on the second side, you can place cheese slices on top so they begin to melt (optional).
- At the same time, once the grill is heated, place your sliced buns under the grill to toast with the soft sides facing up. This won’t take long so be careful not to burn them.
- Once the buns are toasted and the burgers are cooked through you can begin to stack up your burgers with your favourite toppings; like tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles and sauces.
- If you are having chips, wedges or another hot side, remember to plan in time for oven-baking or deep-frying around your burgers cooking.
Vegetarian Version: To make this dish veggie friendly just swap in Veggie Haggis and vegetarian mince.
Burns Night Haggis Recipes 2018 – #3 of 4: Haggis Tacos (Serves 4)
The worst of the snow might be gone but it’s never exactly ‘tropical’ for Burns Night. Still, at least you can heat things up at home with these Haggis Tacos. A quick and easy crowd pleaser, here’s how to make them:
Main Ingredients
8 Taco Shells
450g Haggis
1tbsp Olive Oil
Optional Extras
Lettuce (shredded)
Tomato (diced)
Jalapenos (diced)
Cheese (grated)
Sour Cream
Salsa
Taco Seasoning (to taste)
Corn on the Cob (side)
Instructions
- After preparing any salad items and grating any cheese you want to use, heat the olive oil in a frying pan.
- Once the oil is hot, crumble in the haggis and fry at a medium heat.
- The haggis should already have a beautifully seasoned flavour, but if you like things a little more ‘Mexican’ go ahead and add some taco seasoning to taste.
- While the haggis is cooking heat up the oven to about 180 degrees Celcius. Once hot, place your taco shells in the oven on a baking tray to warm up.
- Baking will give the taco shells a nice toasted look and flavour, but it doesn’t take long, so keep a close eye on them and remove as they start to brown slightly.
- Once the haggis is cooked through, spoon into the taco shells and top with any salad, cheese, salsa, and sour cream to taste.
- If you are having a hot side like corn on the cob, remember to plan in baking, grilling, or boiling time around making your tacos.
Quick Tip: You can spoon a little sour cream or salsa into the bottom of the taco to help the haggis stay in place.
Vegetarian Version: To make this dish veggie friendly just swap in Veggie Haggis.
Burns Night Haggis Recipes 2018 – #4 of 4: Haggis Cheese Toastie (Serves 4)
If you really can’t be fussed with something fancy, or you’d rather do a burns snack than a big meal, then this one is for you. There is nothing much more simple and satisfying than this Haggis Cheese Toastie. Here’s how:
Main Ingredients:
8 Slices of Bread
200g Haggis
200g Scottish Cheddar
Butter
1tbsp Olive Oil
Optional Extras:
Hand-cooked crisps (side)
Chutney / Relish (to taste)
Instructions
- Begin by heating the olive oil in a frying pan and once hot crumbling in the haggis, to fry at a medium heat.
- In the meantime butter each slice of bread on one side only (this side will be the outside)
- Once the haggis is cooked through remove from the heat.
- To begin building your toastie take a slice of bread and place it buttered side down/plain side up.
- Layer your cheese onto the plain side of the bread, and then add another layer of your hot haggis, this should help the cheese begin to melt, and finally top the toastie with another slice of bread with the buttered side facing out/upwards.
- Give your pan a quick wipe, or take a fresh one, and place it over the heat again.
- Once hot, place the toastie in the pan and allow the buttered bread to toast until crisp and golden.
- Lift and check the underside with a spatula, and flip when the first side is golden. By the time the second side is toasted the cheese should be nicely melted.
- Slice in half, and serve with a side of your choice. Nothing wrong with some nice hand-cooked crisps in our opinion!
Quick Tip: For an added twist of flavour experiment by adding a layer or tasty chutney or relish while building your toastie.
Vegetarian Version: To make this dish veggie friendly just swap in Veggie Haggis.