How to host the Ultimate Burns Supper – Recipes and Traditions

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Have you ever been to a Burns Supper?  

It’s a lot of fun, a night to celebrate the works of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns on his birthday 25th January.  A Burns Supper involves speeches, often humorous, recitations of Burns poems and renditions of his songs.  The main event is the haggis which is usually piped into the room, the haggis is ‘addressed’ by the speaker who reads Burns’ poem ‘To a haggis’.  

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, and the actor Russell Hunter was giving ‘The Immortal Memory’, the main speech to Robert Burns memory.  It was quite an experience and gave me a lifelong love of whisky!  I have been to Burns Suppers since, but none has impacted on me quite like the first, possibly because of the quality of the speakers and the fact that the food tends to take second place to the entertainment.

Burns Supper menus generally consist of Cock-a-Leekie soup or Scotch Broth, followed by Haggis, Neeps (turnips/swede) and Tatties (mashed potatoes).  This may be followed by Cloutie Dumpling, a boiled fruit pudding, or Tipsy Laird (sherry trifle)  but I’ve never known that, and I think Cloutie Dumpling after haggis would definitely sink you!  In my experience, the meal has concluded with oatcakes and cheese.  Scotch Whisky is served for the toasts of which there are many!  

I’m sure it’s no surprise that my Ultimate Burns Supper would be more focused on the food, although 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 and the fabulous malt whisky of the Balblair Distillery.  The Balblair Distillery has a long pedigree, it was established 1790 and each Balblair Vintage captures the essence of its year in a bottle. They’re only ever selected at the absolute peak of perfection.  You’ll notice the bottles are not marked with an age statement, but simply with the year that the whisky was laid down. From then, every cask is sampled, judged and selected by John MacDonald to find its optimum maturation point. The point at which each Vintage says it’s ready.

At my Ultimate Burns Supper I would invite the Reverend Richard Coles to start the proceedings, to recite the  Selkirk Grace, 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 with the Selkirk Grace on it was given to me by my maternal grandmother, it’s not of great value, but it always reminds me of her.  Her other great saying was “Better belly burst than good food wasted”, which was hardly surprising as she was a wife and mother through the war years and brought up four children.  Although he is not Scottish, I think Richard Coles would appreciate the sentiments Robert Burns and he would also be very entertaining company. 

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. 

My Ultimate Burns Supper menu begins with Pan-fried Scottish Scallops on a leek puree with crispy bacon and kale chips.  Both king scallops and queenies are fished locally in the Solway Firth, mainly being landed at Kirkcudbright.  Leeks are part of the traditional Cock-a-leekie soup and grow well over the winter in the colder climes of Scotland, as does kale.  Traditional Ayrshire middle bacon is what I grew up on, it is rolled giving you both the back and the streaky rashers rolled into one, Ayrshire is also the county where Robert Burns was born.  I would choose a light citrussy wine or sparkling wine to drink with this scallop dish, on this occasion whisky would over-power the delicate seafood. 

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 oh boy is it good!  Here is how to prepare the main event at your Burns Supper. 

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with a Whisky Sauce

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! 

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Scottish

Keyword: haggis, Robert Burns, whisky

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Farmersgirl Kitchen

Ingredients

• 450 g haggis

For the neeps

• 700 g swede (neeps)
• 1 tsp whisky
• 1 tbsp cream
• 20 g butter
• Salt and pepper

For the tatties

• 500 g King Edward or Maris Piper potatoes suitable for mashing
• 25 ml milk
• 50 g butter
• salt

For the whisky sauce

• 1 tbsp Balblair 90 Scotch Malt Whisky
• 200 ml 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

2005 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 1st release

Only a handful of American oak, ex-bourbon casks laid down in 2005 were selected by Distillery Manager John MacDonald to form this classic Balblair expression.   Sparkling gold in colour and full of character, this expression displays the classic Balblair house aromas of green apple, ground spices and honey on the nose with hints of sweet toffee and a deliciously spicy long finish on the palate. Furthermore, its notes of ground spice and oaky vanilla make it the perfect accompaniment to the traditional Burns Night supper of haggis, neeps and tatties.

At my Ultimate Burns Supper, the dessert is a twist on the classic Scottish Cranachan, a traditional dish made with cream, honey, whisky and oats with Scottish Raspberries.  I have changed this up a bit, inspired by another Scottish classic: the Whisky Mac.  Whisky Mac is a drink made by mixing whisky with Green Ginger Wine, the combination of whisky and ginger makes for a really warming drink.  My Whisky Mac Cranachan features chopped ginger in syrup, and a ginger oat granola, I’ve used redcurrants, rather than raspberries, to add a little acidity to balance out the richness of the cream, they also make a really pretty garnish. 

It’s in the recipe, so alongside serve the 1999 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, 2nd release with the Whisky Mac Cranachan.  It’s a beautifully developed Balblair Vintage which boasts the classic, fruity, floral and light heart of Balblair set against a darker, richer backdrop of further maturation in Spanish oak.  

After dessert I would serve tea and coffee with Scottish tablet and Balblair 1990 Highland Single Malt Whisky, 1st release.  It’s matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks and Spanish oak ex-sherry butts.  Blablair Vintage 1990 2nd release is truly exceptional, luxurious and the perfect after dinner treat and ideal to toast the Bard.

Next up in my Burns Supper programme would be Neil Oliver,  the popular  Scottish TV archaeologist, telling of the life of Robert Burns in the ‘Immortal Memory’ followed by Eddi Reader singing the songs of Burns including Ae Fond Kiss and Ye Jacobites.   Fred McAuley has the right balance of wit and humour to provide an entertaining Toast to the Lassies and comedian, Susan Calman would be my choice to provide a robust reply to that toast.  

Of course, every toast requires you to lift your glass and take a sip of Balblair Whisky, so make sure you have plenty to go round!   The evening would end with Eddi Reader leading the singing of Auld Lang Syne.  

I hope you have enjoyed my Ultimate Burns Supper and that you’ll try some haggis and raise a wee dram of Balblair 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.

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For more Burns Night recipes with Balblair Whisky visit these top UK bloggers:

Scotch Beef and Haggis Meatloaf with Whisky Neeps – Foodie Quine

Orange Bundt Cake with Salted Whisky Caramel – Recipes from a Pantry

Vegetarian Haggis and Mushroom Wellington – Amuse your Bouche

This is a commissioned post in association with Balblair Malt Whisky, all opinions are my own.