Haggis, Anyone?
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
December 9, 2019 7:52pm CST
I was first introduced to haggis many years ago when attending either the highland games or the renaissance faire in my city. It is something that I have not had in years, but something I've considered trying to get (despite the ban of it in the US).
What is haggis? It is a food made of the offal (entrails) of a sheep or calf and cooked in the animals stomach. Oatmeal, suet and other things are mixed with this and then boiled in the stomach of the animal, historically used as a means of preservation.
But, is it Scottish?
There is an English cookbook from the 1600's that has a recipe for the haggis, however some claim that it is a Roman dish. Apparently Romans would prepare the meat in the stomach of the animal as a means of preserving it during a long hunt.
There's even a theory that the vikings brought it with them. Old Norse Haggw and and Old Icelandic Hoggva means "to chop". According to Victorian philologist Walter Skeat, this is evidence enough that it originated with them.
Have you ever had Haggis?
I read about this at the below link. Found it interesting and felt some here may as well.
If you'll excuse me, I'm off to see if I can get this imported..
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/historians-cookbook/history-haggis
8 people like this
7 responses
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Dec 19
I have had Haggis in my lifetime.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I would like to give a try.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
@Deepizzaguy Oh, okay, you wrote "I have had", so i was confused.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
10 Dec 19
Years ago when our friends from Scotland came to visit, they brought us a can of Haggis. We never did eat it, lol!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
There is a can in my friend's pantry from earlier this year. She bought it at the highland games. I think she keeps it for a day that her and I can eat it, but we never think to use it. 
It's definitely not for everyone, but I remember liking the taste.
It's definitely not for everyone, but I remember liking the taste.2 people like this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
10 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I just couldn't bring myself to try it.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
@1creekgirl I was tricked into trying it and THEN told what it was. Probably the best and worst marketing strategy for that stall, but it worked for me and my friends.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
It has a distinctive taste, I think you would remember it. It's also not something readily available here in the US. In fact, it's banned here.
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
10 Dec 19
For what I know Haggis is the national dish of Scotland, but it was not invented by Scottish, but by British. I never heard that ancient Romans prepared the meat in the stomach of the animals. I have "De re coquinaria’ by Apicius (first known cooking book from Ancient Rome) there are weird recipes, but cooking using the stomach is something I never found.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
Have you ever prepared anything from that particular cookbook? Did they adjust the recipes for modern technology or is it a verbatim translation?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
10 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I have a copy of the original in Latin (that I have studied) and an Italian translation, no adjustments, it is only an interesting book to read to know how our ancestors prepared their food. An English translation does not exist. NO, I never tried one of those recipes. They mainly used a sauce that was made with fermented fish and some herbs, let's say a Roman version of the Chinese Soy sauce. It is anyway interesting, just to know what ingredients were available at those ancient times.
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
10 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Romans ate eggs, cheese, milk, chickens, lambs and goats, pork, a large number of vegetable and they used a lot a sort of wheat to make bread (without yeast) and also to prepare a sort of porridge. The salt was very expensive in those ancient times so they prepared that fish sauce (garum) adding salt and the sauce was used to season many of their meats. When I have visited Pompeii I have seen the bread ovens of those times, very similar to the actual wood fired pizza ovens.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
It might not be available, but you might be able to get it imported.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
@amitkokiladitya Have you been vegetarian your whole life?
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
Ah, so this would not be a meal for you at all.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
10 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum no...not for me
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Dec 19
I have never had Haggis but have written about it also. I made my own version once. Oatmeal with smoked sausage and some bacon and onions and it all came out very delicious, Of course I made it in a pot not any animal's stomach
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Dec 19
That does sound very yummy, the version you made.
1 person likes this
