Canned Haggis

**sirdaniel1975** · 6th August 07, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by FrugalCorner

We just orderd a few cases of canned haggis to sell at fairs...has anybody tried this stuff??

When "Braveheart" was released in 1995, Mel Gibson shared a can with Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. I seem to recall one of them saying it tasted like dog food.

**Coemgen** · 11th August 07, 08:59 PM

I've had it before. It tasted almost, but not entirely, unlike sausage. Not wholly unpleasant, but still quite different. Of course, I haven't had a real haggis yet, but I ordered one from Oatmeal Savage for a "End of Summer and Last Hurrah Before Separating Forever to go to College" party with some of my mates.

But, back to topic, the canned haggis was pretty good, all said and done. No casing, it looked a bit like hash, and I just dumped it into a bowl and microwaved it. As I said, it tasted pretty good, but unidentifiable as a distinct taste; a sort of sausage-y flavour, in my opinon.

**Riverkilt** · 12th August 07, 09:10 PM

Boy, I don't know if I'd survive reading the list of ingredients...but then I love a lot of sausage etc made out of mixed parts...

I always figured the canned stuff would make me gag.

And since I don't drink anymore (no it actually doesn't cook out) I can't have the homemade kind with whisky.

If someone does find a palatable version of canned Haggis might give it a try...I think my family lost the haggis gene in the clearances though...

Ron

**ScottEPooh** · 13th August 07, 06:43 AM

At the latest Highland Games in Gatlinburg, there was a booth set up selling canned haggis. I can't remember which company it was. Anyway, I didn't get around to buying any, but I did sample some, and it wasn't bad. Of course, I'm a numpty American, and have never had the real thing, so you can take that with a grain of salt. But, I have moved "eating haggis" up a few spots on my "things to do before I die" list, partly due to sampling canned haggis. I am now sad that I can't remember the vendor. But if Frugal Corner starts selling it, I would probably buy some, just to have around the house for camping trips and the like.

**haukehaien** · 13th August 07, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by ScottEPooh

But, I have moved "eating haggis" up a few spots on my "things to do before I die" list, ...

I was on my way through St. Louis a few weeks ago and stopped at the Scottish Arms for lunch, which turned out to be a pint of Guinness (I know, in a Scottish pub?) and haggis.

It was okay. P.J. O'Rourke describes most game as tasting "like militant liver", and that's a description I would apply to haggis. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't anything wonderful either.

I still have "eating Haggis Ferintosh" on my list.

**GlassMan** · 13th August 07, 01:30 PM

Last time I was at the Scottish Merchant in Old Town Alexandria, I picked up a couple of cans of canned haggis. It definitely wasn't as good as the real thing (at least what I was told was the real thing) but I still found it rather tasty and enjoyable. It was definitely very hash like in appearance. I liked it and Cloe (my dog) loved it, but Nopadon couldn't stomach it. And considering some of the things he eats when his mom is cooking I don't know how he can claim it wasn't edible. The boy eats boiled, spiced pigs ear for God's sake! Anyway, back to canned haggis. The one thing I'd like to know is how people get it to slide out of the can for slicing and then frying. I saw an image once of someone cooking slices of canned haggis and the type that I bought just wasn't cohesive enough to slice. It sort of glided out of the can, once again very hashlike.

**Frank McGrath** · 13th August 07, 01:49 PM

My mother used to serve canned corned beef by cutting the ends off of the can and pressing the whole "roll" onto a plate, then slicing the roll like patties. She then fried the patties. I wonder what Haggis would taste like served in this manner. We called that meal, Doggie Burgers. Now I want to try it.

**macwilkin** · 13th August 07, 02:07 PM

All of the expats in our St. Andrew's society like The Caledonian Kitchen's tinned Haggis:

www.caledoniankitchen.com

If it's good enough for Alex frae Edinburgh and Jim frae Dunfermline, then it's good enough frae me!

Todd

**anythingshiny** · 13th August 07, 02:08 PM

ive had the CK canned stuff quite often...i do it with "neeps and tatties" turnip/rutabag and pot's...pretty much like hash on a stick really...i would venture to guess 1/2 the fun is just the unique quality...my kids are required to take 2 courtesy bites..and the son usually puts on his kilt and chases the dog with his wood claymore..but i agree with most...nothing outstanding and ive had much worse. the REAL stuff is on my list of to-do's when we venture to scotland in the spring.

**macwilkin** · 13th August 07, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by haukehaien

I was on my way through St. Louis a few weeks ago and stopped at the Scottish Arms for lunch, which turned out to be a pint of Guinness (I know, in a Scottish pub?) and haggis.

It was okay. P.J. O'Rourke describes most game as tasting "like militant liver", and that's a description I would apply to haggis. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't anything wonderful either.

I still have "eating Haggis Ferintosh" on my list.

Their cock-a-leekie pie is the best item on their menu, INMHO.

Todd