How to host the Ultimate Burns Supper

How to host the Ultimate Burns Supper is a  step by step guide to the recipes and traditions of a Burns Supper. Including a recipe for the classic Haggis, Neeps (Swede), and Tatties (potatoes).

What is Burns Night?

Burns Night is an evening to celebrate the poems and songs of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns, on his birthday 25th January.  

Who was Robert Burns?

Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759 in the village of Alloway, in Ayrshire in the west of Scotland.

Burns worked on the family farm which was hard pysical work. He preferred poetry, nature, drink and women. At the age of 27 the success of his first published collection made him famous across the country.

In just 18 months, Burns had spent most of the wealth from his published poetry, and in 1789 he began work as an Excise Officer in Dumfries. Robert Burns died in 1796 aged 37 but he left behind a large body of poetry and songs.

Works Include:

• A man’s a man for a’ that
• A Cotter’s Saturday Night
• A Red, Red Rose
• Auld Lang Syne
• Tam O’Shanter
• Holy Willie’s Prayer

What is a Burns Supper?

A Burns Supper is the name for a celebration of the birthday on 25th January or Robert Burns which includes a meal.  You can hold your Burns Supper on the evening of the 25th January or at the nearest convenient time. 

At a Burns Supper, you will hear speeches which are often humorous and can also be very rude!  There will also be recitations of Burns poems and renditions of some of his many songs.  

A Burns Supper is also a feast of traditional Scottish food.  The Haggis is the star attraction with its own special poem. 

My First Burns Supper 

I went to my first Burns Supper with my Dad when I was 17.  I’m not sure why he had a spare ticket, someone must have dropped out, but I was up for a new experience.

The actor Russell Hunter gave ‘The Immortal Memory’, the main speech to Robert Burns memory.  It was quite an experience and gave me a lifelong love of Scotch whisky!  I have been to Burns Suppers since, but none of them impacted on me quite like the first.  

Traditional Burns Supper Menu 

For a traditional Burns Supper menus serve Cock-a-Leekie soup or Scotch Broth, This is followed by Haggis, Neeps (turnips/swede) and Tatties (mashed potatoes).  

Dessert may be Cloutie Dumpling,  which is a boiled fruit pudding, or a Scottish Raspberry Trifle laced with plenty of sherry.

I think Cloutie Dumpling after haggis would definitely sink you!  In my experience, the meal has concluded with oatcakes and cheese. 

Raise a toast to Robert Burns with Scotch Whisky. Serve Sherry to those who do not enjoy Whisky.   

The Ultimate Burns Supper 

I’m sure it’s no surprise that my Ultimate Burns Supper is mostly focused on the food.

For the entertainment, I’ve let my imagination run away with me and ‘invited’ the people I’d like to hear in my ultimate (fantasy) Burns Supper.

I’ve also created a menu that remains true to the roots of the Burns Supper and celebrates the incredible food of Scotland.

Who will speak at The Ultimate Burns Supper?

The Selkirk Grace

At my Ultimate Burns Supper, I would invite the Reverend Richard Coles to start the proceedings, to recite the  Selkirk Grace.  Although he is not Scottish, I think Richard Coles would appreciate the sentiments Robert Burns and he would also be very entertaining company. 

This is a prayer that, like most of Burns poetry,  speaks to people today as well as to those in the days when Burns wrote it:

‘Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.’

The plate in the photograph that hash the Selkirk Grace written on it was given to me by my maternal grandmother. It always reminds me of her.  

Her other great saying was “Better belly burst than good food wasted”.  This is hardly surprising as she was a wife and mother through WW2  and brought up four children.  

To a Haggis

After the Selkirk Grace, it’s time to pipe in the Haggis and to declaim the famous poem that epitomises the Burns Supper: To a Haggis.  

At my Ultimate Burns Supper, this poem would be read with gusto by actor,  Robert Carlyle, An accomplished actor, who would add an air of menace with the knife poised to cut open the haggis. 

Here are a few verses, you can read the full version by clicking on the poem title. 

To a Haggis

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm :
Weel are ye wordy o’a grace
As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o’need,
While thro’ your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin’, rich!

Once the ceremonial cutting open of the haggis is accomplished, it is taken back to the kitchen to be served and the meal can begin. 

Appetisers

Fish and seafood is a great way to start a meal. Scottish seafood is some of the best in the world and there are lots of great recipes for elegant appetisers.

Pan-Fried Scottish Scallops

My menu begins with Pan-fried Scottish Scallops on a leek puree with crispy bacon and kale chips.  

Scallops

Scallops are shellfish, like clams oysters, and mussels. They grow on the seabed and filter up to 200 litres of seawater a day. Scallops have white meat and orange ‘coral’ or roe. The flesh has a sweet taste which is enhanced by pan-frying, the coral has a stronger flavour.

Both king scallops and queenies are fished locally in the Solway Firth, mainly being landed at Kirkcudbright.  

Leeks and Kale

Kale and Leeks are hardy plants and grow well in the colder climate of Scotland. Leeks have a mild onion flavour and are frequently used in soups and stews throughout the winter. Kale is a leafy green vegetable that is part of the cabbage family and features in my pan-fried scallop recipe and also in my Scotch Broth.

Ayrshire Bacon

Traditional Ayrshire middle bacon is bacon which is rolled this means you get both the back and the streaky rashers rolled into one slice. Ayrshire is also the county where Robert Burns was born.  

Alternative Appetiser

Cullen Skink – Scottish Smoked Haddock Soup

Cullen Skink is a traditional Scottish soup made with smoked fish, potatoes, and onions. It’s the perfect soup to serve as a hearty family meal with homemade soda bread or serve a small bowl to start your Burns Supper meal.

What to drink with your Appetiser

I would choose a light citrussy wine or sparkling wine to drink with these seafood dishes. On this occasion whisky would over-power the delicate seafood. 

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with a Whisky Sauce

Then the time comes to serve the haggis, with its traditional accompaniments of bashit neeps (mashed swede) and champit tatties (mashed potato)

Less traditional is the whisky cream sauce I am serving with the haggis neeps and tatties, but it is so good you really have to give it a try!  

As an alternative to mashed neeps (swede), you might want to serve Rumbledethumps a recipe that combines mashed potato, swede and cabbage. It’s delicious on its own topped with grilled cheese or serve it with your haggis.

As an alternative to traditional haggis you can serve Air Fryer Balmoral Chicken. Tender chicken breasts stuffed with haggis and wrapped in bacon, such a great introduction to haggis. I like to serve this with Air Fryer Roasted Swede which really brings out the flavour of this humble root vegetable.

What do you drink with Haggis?

It’s traditonal to drink Scotch whisky with haggis, especially at a Burns Supper. And I would always chooose a single malt over a blended whisky. Which malt you choose is down to taste, I like the peaty smoke flavoured malts from the islands, but also the more honey tones of Highland malts.

Scottish Cranachan Dessert with Ginger

For the Burns Supper dessert, I am serving a twist on the classic Scottish Cranachan. Cranachan is a traditional dish made with cream, honey, whisky and oats with Scottish Raspberries and my version includes the sweet heat of ginger.

My dessert is inspired by a Scottish classic drink: the Whisky Mac.  A Whisky Mac combines Scotch whisky with Green Ginger Wine. It’s a delicious combination and a really warming drink.

Individual Raspberry Trifles are little pots of delight. Each individual trifle has layers of soft sponge, juicy sweet Scottish raspberries, silky smooth custard and is finished with a topping of whipped cream. A perfect sweet treat to finish your Burns Supper.

After Dessert 

After dessert I would serve tea and coffee with Scottish Shortbread Biscuits with a glass of sherry or another dram of Scotch whisky!

The Immortal Memory

Next up in my Burns Supper programme would be Kirsty Wark, Ayrshire lass, journalist and presenter. Kirsty would tell the story of the life of Robert Burns in the ‘Immortal Memory’.

Songs of Robert Burns

I would follow this with  Eddi Reader singing the songs of Burns including Ae Fond Kiss and Ye Jacobites.  

The Toast to the Lassies

Fred McAuley has the right balance of wit and humour to provide an entertaining Toast to the Lassies.

The Reply

The delightful comedian, Susan Calman would be my choice to provide a robust reply to that toast.  

The Toasts

Of course, every toast requires you to lift your glass and take a sip of Scotch Whisky so make sure you have plenty to go round!   

Auld Lang Syne

The evening would end with Eddi Reader leading the singing of Auld Lang Syne.  

I hope you have enjoyed my virtual Ultimate Burns Supper and that you’ll try some haggis and raise a wee dram of whisky to toast Robert Burns on the 25th January. 

For more information about hosting a Burns Supper and links to the poetry of Robert Burns, Visit Scotland have a comprehensive guide.

More Scottish Recipes

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with a Whisky Sauce

Janice Pattie

The Ultimate Burns Supper features Scottish haggis, with its traditional accompaniments of bashit neeps (mashed swede) and champit tatties (mashed potato),  less traditional is the whisky cream sauce I am serving with the haggis neeps and tatties, but oh boy is it good! 

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Scottish

Servings 4

Calories 828 kcal

Ingredients

• 450 grams (1 lb) haggis

For the neeps

• 700 grams (3 cups) swede (neeps)
• 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) whisky
• 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) cream
• 20 grams (1½ tbsp) butter
• Salt and pepper

For the tatties

• 500 grams (1 lb) King Edward or Maris Piper potatoes suitable for mashing
• 25 millilitres (2 tbsp) milk
• 50 grams (3½ tbsp) butter
• salt

For the whisky sauce

• 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Balblair 90 Scotch Malt Whisky
• 200 millilitres (¾ cups) double cream

Instructions

 

For the Haggis

• Haggis can be cooked in different ways, traditionally it would be boiled, a 450g Haggis should be simmered for 45 min – 1 hour. I would advise that you wrap it in foil first in case the skin splits and bursts.
• You can also wrap in foil and cook it in the oven at 190C in an ovenproof dish, half filled with water for about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Haggis takes well to being microwaved and this is the quickest method. Remove it from its skin and place in an oven proof dish, cover with cling film and microwave for 5 minutes on full power (800W or category E oven)

For the Neeps (swede)

Method 1

• Peel and dice
• Cook in boiling salted water until tender, about 20- 30 minutes
• Drain and mash with the cream, whisky and butter.
• Season with copious amounts of black pepper

Method 2

• Pierce swede all over. Cook upright 850 w. Cook for 1 minute per 100 g. Allow to stand for 1 minute then turn upside down. Cook for a further 1 minute per 100 grams Once cooked allow to stand for 5 minutes, cut in half and scoop out the centre and mash. Season to taste.

For the tatties

• eel and half or quarter the potatoes depending on the size. Try to make the pieces of similar size so they all cook at the same time.
• Cook in boiling salted water for 15-20 minutes
• Drain well and mash well with the milk and butter. I put the potatoes through a potato ricer as it gives a lovely smooth mash with no lumps.

For the whisky sauce

• Place in a pan and warm gently, serve in a jug at the table

Nutrition

Calories: 828kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 23gFat: 64gSaturated Fat: 32gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 180mgSodium: 874mgPotassium: 1404mgFiber: 7gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1333IUVitamin C: 69mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 3mg

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