When you think of Scotland, bagpipes and men in skirts would probably come into mind. But did you know Scotland also has some of the finest and unusual cuisine on its side of the hemisphere. Scotland's cuisine is much like its culture, once you hear the words of "oatmeal potatoes" and "potato scones" you'll notice that there is a little pattern between its recipes.
There are some excellent meals to try if you ever visit, or have a Scottish classic restaurant by your city. Ayrshire bacon dumplings are a great treat to a soup or a stew and are made in a way that the bacon is crispy and tender inside its dumpling shell. Borrowing a dish from one of its European neighbors, England, Scotland also has soft pancake like crumpets. They can be eaten with jelly or with butter spread on and they are great for an afternoon tea snack.
Sweetbreads are another good light meal for lunch. In fact, it isn't even bread! Its usually the off cuts of beef, lamb, and pork. It may not sound too yummy, but they are in fact very light flavored and great to be added into a stew. Dinner meals are usually very hearty, the complete opposite of lunch. Stoved chicken is lightly toasted with garlic sauce and can be shared with a bowl of beef stew.
Mustard lamp with turnips is a sharp tasting meal that combines a small bit of sweetness. Another one to try is Shepherd's pie, which is a Scottish tradition that has been around for centuries. Now it is quite common, and mostly heard about in the Scottish highlands. The main ingredients? Scotland's favorite meat, lamb. Just think of it as a meat pie. Cocky leeky soup might have a strange name but its basically a warming and simple soup made with chicken, onions, parsley, and leeks.
Scotland doesn't leave out dessert off their menu, in fact they have some really tasty ones. Dundee cake is a loaded fruity cake with sprinkles of almonds. Scotland also wouldn't be complete without shortbread, its definitely a favorite of the country, especially of the butterscotch variety. Honey cake is another rich cake that is glazed with honey, there is also a honey and whiskey combination.
Yes, this country isn't complete without its whiskey! In fact there is even whiskey punch and whiskey fudge as a snack. There is even gingered whiskey biscuits. Although the alcohol is used sparingly so don't worry about getting topsy turvy, it is just for flavor.
So next time you visit the Highlands go out and try some of these dishes! They have a lot more to offer, get yourself out there and sample all their tarts, dumplings, and soups.