Poor quality veggie haggis in the UK?

**Laird_M** · 10th January 13, 05:58 AM

I've been asked to run a Burns sessions for both our Scout Troops (having just asked on Tuesday by our GSL to move over from Cubs), and want to give examples of good and bad haggis as a number of the YP (Young People) heard about my St Andrew's session, and want to educate them.

I'm going to get the kids to do the neeps and tatties and offer McSweens veggie and real, a haggis from our local Morrisons which is bloody revolting, and want to source a 'not quite so great' veggie haggis, but having never eaten veggie haggis (a misnomer in my book if ever there was...), I don't know what brand to go for...

**neloon** · 10th January 13, 07:30 AM

Martin,
I have never come across a "bad" veggie haggis. In my personal view - which is what it has to be - McSween's used to have the edge over Hall's which is presumably no longer available. People I know who have tried real and veggie seem to prefer veggie but, again, personal taste must come into play.

**Chas** · 10th January 13, 07:33 AM

Well, I think that any vegetarian haggis would be 'not so great'. If you take out the liver and lights, what is left? Only oats. So you get a savoury porridge. Doesn't sound appealing to me.

Regards

Chas

**neloon** · 10th January 13, 07:52 AM

Chas,
If you look at home made veggie haggis recipes on the www, you will discover they usually have lentils, beans, mushrooms etc.. I guess preference depends on the spices involved but there is probably much more variety than with the shop-bought "traditional" offerings. I can't off-hand remember what's in McSween's vegetarian haggis.

**Laird_M** · 11th January 13, 05:59 AM

Guess it'll just be McSweens veggie then. If I remember theirs wasn't too bad.

The first commercial veggie haggis was created by John Macsween as a tribute to Scottish poetry! With its unique combination of black kidney beans, lentils, vegetables, oatmeal, herbs and spices, this mainstay of the Macsween range is enjoyed by vegetarians, vegans and carnivores alike. As per its traditional cousin, this fabulously flexible dish is very easy to cook. Sheer beany brilliance.

**neloon** · 27th January 13, 08:56 AM

So, Martin, how were the varieties of haggis received?

**Laird_M** · 28th January 13, 05:38 AM

Ended up using one McSweens, one Simon Howie 'Chieftan', one Simon Howie veggie and a Halls.
Everyone agreed that the Halls was revolting, but the rest were nice.
I'd not seen the Howie before, but it was nice and peppery.
Everyone enjoyed the tasting session and one lad came up to me and said that his dad was Scottish, and after tasting them he was going to tell he dad that he couldn't be a true Scot as he hated Haggis. As he left I heard him telling his mum and demanding they go home via the shops and buy some.
Yet one more convert so job done.

Ah I got a LOT of admiring comments about my outfit and general and esepecially about my sgian dubh as it had the chorus from Burns 'My Heart is in The Highlands' on the back of the handle.