The Offal Truth About American Haggis

**Babyvett** · 25th January 13, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Perhaps they went "Nessie hunting" the next day?

HAHA, no, that would be my husband, I am sure.. We've been talking (okay, I've been talking for several years, suddenly he's part of the conversation.. lol) about a trip to Scotland for a while now and last night, he said something about wanting to go to Loch Ness to search for Nessie.. And as much as i love him, I wouldn't put it past him.. LOL

**Tobus** · 25th January 13, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I well remember coming across a very earnest and determined party of Americans festooned with maps, compasses,binoculars and an array of cameras searching out the elusive haggis. I kid you not.

I once had a mini-van load of Japanese tourists appear at my house (I live at the end of a private dirt road outside a small rural town, well off the beaten path) asking if I had any jackalopes on my property that they could take photos of. I told them no, but if they went back out to the highway and drove another 15 miles west, away from town, they would probably see one.

**Babyvett** · 25th January 13, 01:30 PM

Oh great Tobus.. Now all day I'm gonna be saying "Fast as fast can be, you'll never catch me"..

**mookien** · 25th January 13, 02:02 PM

Matt: It's good to hear from someone who has actually seen a haggis "on the hoof", so to speak. If "they're especially thick around the lake shore", they must cohabitate with those elusive snipes.

Thanks for explaining the need for suet - didn't know that. And, I'm happy to hear that Caledonia's haggis is a good 2nd choice, if you can't get the real thing. Though one of these days, like Elmer Fudd, I'm going to shoot one of those wascally haggis.

John

**Jock Scot** · 25th January 13, 02:09 PM

Just so you know Snipe are nowhere near as elusive as the haggis. We had a party of "guns"(shooters) here last week who shot more than a few. Sadly, I have to report that not a trace of haggis was seen.

**mookien** · 25th January 13, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Just so you know Snipe are nowhere near as elusive as the haggis. We had a party of "guns"(shooters) here last week who shot more than a few. Sadly, I have to report that not a trace of haggis was seen.

Well, it's beginning to look like if I'm ever going to bag a snipe, I'll have to travel to Scotland. But, wait a minute! That's a good thing!

**Tobus** · 25th January 13, 02:25 PM

I'm happy to hear that Caledonia's haggis is a good 2nd choice, if you can't get the real thing.

To be honest, this is the only haggis I've ever had, and I like it. It's always funny to see people at the Highland Games daring each other to try a sample of it and then exclaiming that it's not as bad as everyone says it's supposed to be. But some still flat-out refuse to eat it due to the persistent legend of it being awful.

They have three different types. One is with lamb, one is with Highland cattle, and one is with sirloin. The Highland cattle variety tastes the best to me, as it seems to have a richer flavour. But if canned haggis is not your idea of fine cuisine, they also sell a frozen "presentation haggis" in a sort-of traditional casing that would be more suitable for a Burns supper or dinner party.

http://www.caledoniankitchen.com/can...ish-haggis.php

Some folks purchase haggis from Lamb, etc., though I don't know how it compares taste-wise. http://www.oatmealsavage.com/food.html

**mookien** · 25th January 13, 02:46 PM

Tobus: Thanks for the encouragement and the pointers to the haggis alternatives. I'll have to try some of them. I don't like the look of the "oatmealsavage" Scottish guy. He looks like he's laughing at my inevitable gastric distress.

My wife and I have only had haggis a few times - at two Burns dinners and a couple of games. But, we both liked it. She's Sassunnach (surname Newsome), so I can't explain it. She even bought me 3 cans of the lamb-based from Caledonia.

I know what you mean about haggisaphobia. At the Burns dinner last Saturday we sat with a couple who absolutely refused to taste the haggis. Oh well, more for us.

**Wolfhound Jack** · 25th January 13, 03:02 PM

If you're going for the presentation, the presentation kit from Caledonian kitchen if fine (I don't work for them by the way, just happy coincidence to also be from the same part of Texas)

However, you can do your own for a smaller quantity than 30 people.

From any online sausage supplier you can get 100mm collagen casing (aka "salami" casing) which is definitely not edible, or "beef bung" in the 4"-4 1/2" variety (debatable edibility

) and stuff the Caledonian kitchen stuff into them. "Cooking" would be fast as the insides are already ready to eat and both types of casing are also already ready to use - basically you'd be heating it to get it hot and then serve it.

Just spoon in the stuff from the can, then leave "half again" loose casing for expansion (so if a can takes up 2 inches of casing, leave 1 more inch of loose casing), and tie it off. You're done. Heat it. Serve it on kale/lettuce.

I prefer the beef bung because you get maximum "bang for your buck" with the veinous "natural texture" of the casing. The collagen casing does fine though and looks "prettier" ... if you can say such a thing about haggis. .. or rather, maybe "tidier" is a better word.

**Babyvett** · 25th January 13, 03:05 PM

Compared to some of the "by-products" we allow in hot dogs (Americas national food?) and lunch meats, I would think livers, lungs and such wouldn't be such a shocker.. but then, being from SE Texas with Louisiana right across the border, we're use to eating those types of things in Boudain, so maybe its just me.. I refuse to eat hot dogs and bologna but would be willing to try haggis with no quams. Seems mild in my opinion compared to things like tripe, chitterlings and other intestine products..