Tomorrow is St Andrews Day – Our Patron Saint doncha know!!!
The funny thing about Scotland is that we have all our National Celebrations crammed into the dark end of the year. Our Saint’s day is on 30th of November, followed shortly after Christmas by Hogmany and then on January 25th we have Burns Night.
All the food and whisky and dancing is a great way to keep the people warm when the weather is “dreich” though.
So what do we eat on a Traditional Scot’s Night? – Haggis, chappit Neeps and Tatties!!! That’s Haggis (the brown stuff), Mashed Swede and potatoes.
Nothing better for soaking up a dram (or three) I can tell you.
Now ……………… the foodies amongst you will know what the traditional Haggis is made from …………… its Lambs Lights stuffed with other ingredients into a sheep’s stomach. Lambs Lights are the lungs BTW …….. no don’t run away screaming!! I am not going to show you the “authentic recipe” because to be frank its a fairly gory process and you may never hang out with me ever again.
And I know that if you are outwith the UK - several of the ingredients are not “legal” to use anyway. So today – the veggie version!! That way you can knock up a batch and celebrate along with us in spirit if not in body …………… its the closest recipe to the original that I have perfected ………………… with a double bonus!!
Its really cheap to make …………… and it makes enough for eight piggie portions!!!!
VEGGIE HAGGIS – serves 8 hearty platefuls
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion – finely chopped
1 carrot – finely grated
125g mushrooms – frozen is fine
50g red lentils
50g pearl barley
600ml vegetable stock (or boiling water)
1 tin kidney beans
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp mixed spice
Lots of salt and pepper
200g coarse oatmeal
First I chopped my mushrooms very finely. These were bought for 10p at the end of the day and frozen in handfuls until I needed them – actually they chop much easier when they are frozen. Got them into really cheffy little bits.
OK I admit it – I am showing off now ……………. but look how professional these mushroom mini-cubes are LOL
Finely chop the onion and start to soften in the oil. I am using my wok as I want something big to cook this down in. Grate the carrot on a fine blade and tip that in too.
Its amazing how many recipes start with – soften an onion isn’t it???
In with the mushrooms too and continue over a low heat for about ten minutes until the veggies are really soft and mushy. It doesn’t look like much at this point but trust me ………….. keep on going!!
Measure out 50g of barley – doesn’t look a lot does it?
And 50g of red lentil – well you don’t think I could do a Frugal Feast and not throw in some lentils do you???
Stir, stir, stir …………………
The in with the stock and bring up to a decent simmer.
Drain your tin of kidney beans …………….. OK I know they are not,they are Pinto beans but they are what I had in stock!!! Sheesh!!! you’d think this was Masterchef!!! LOL
And mash them up – good old potato masher to the rescue – you are looking for a mostly smooth but don’t mind a few lumps puree here.
Into the pot along with all the flavourings – and the soy sauce suddenly deepens the colour and you begin to think “This could actually turn out to look like Haggis!!!”
Oh! Yea of Little Faith LOL
Sprinkle in the coarse oatmeal……………. stir, stir, stir ………………
And after about twenty minute you will end up with a thick porridge like mixture. You may need to add a little boiling water from time to time to stop it catching in the bottom of the pan…………….. check the seasoning and the job is nearly done.
Tip into a baking dish – and allow to cool before storing in the fridge until needed. You can heat this by giving it a quick blast in the microwave ……….. or cover with foil and heat in the oven.
Now – for the accompaniments …………………. “Chappit Neeps!!” This is a veg that is in season up here at the moment – its a swede, kind of like a turnip but kind of not ………… in fact wars have been fought over less!!! Its flesh is yellow and a good greengrocer will know what it is if your local supermarket (OK – LIDL) doesn’t stock it.
Now – my Mum used to cook this by hacking it into pieces and peeling off the thick fibrous skin before boiling it for twenty minutes in salted water and mashing like a potato …………….. my way is much easier on the wrists!!
Run a sharp knife all the way around the belly of the swede – kind of how you would prepare and apple for stuffing. And chuck in the microwave.
3 x 5 minute burst and the insides are all fluffy and steamed – you can scoop them out with a spoon.
And mash with plenty of butter and black pepper ……………….. to serve alongside a pile of fluffy mash and a portion of Haggis.
Now – even though I am blowing my own trumpet here – you really can’t tell the difference in that picture between my veggie version and the real beastie.
And DS1 who has been poorly all day managed to tuck away the plate I dished up to get you a photo!! And it got a “Two thumbs up” from my not so little Gastronaut!
Still plenty to tuck into tomorrow – as as the eagle eyed amongst you will have clocked – most of the ingredients came from my storecupboard stocked with Approved Food goodies at bargain prices ……………….. meaning each plateful comes in at about 11p. Now that is a price worth a party I can tell you.
Happy St Andrews Day my lovelies – I hope some of you are curious enough to give this one a try – its tasty enough to satisfy the carnivores in my family and cheap enough to see me through to the end of NOT-vember with a whole (rifles through her purse) £4.17 left in the budget.
Slainte!! (cheers!)
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