When
I was younger one of my favorite books series to read was the Little House on
the Prairie series. The Little House books are extensive and include books
devoted to Martha Morse, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s great-grandmother who grew up
in Scotland. The stories are interwoven with bits of Scottish culture and one
piece of Scottish culture that always stood out to me was the traditional
haggis that was eaten.
Haggis as described by Wikipedia is
“a savory pudding containing sheep’s pluck (heart, liver and lungs); minced
with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt. Traditionally encased in the
animal’s stomach and simmered for three hours.” Gross. However, when I learned
that I would be visiting Scotland for a few days last summer, I knew that I
couldn’t let the opportunity to try Haggis pass me by.
Upon arriving in Scotland, our first meal was eaten
at a local pub. I had talked my friend, Laura, into trying haggis with me so we
were thrilled when we saw haggis on the menu. We ordered a side of haggis and
upon its arrival, we simultaneously took a bite. What was the verdict?
Honestly, kind of tasty. I would not choose to eat haggis on a regular basis,
mostly due to its unusual texture. The haggis was mushy and a bit chewy. The
texture was unlike any I’ve ever experienced. But the flavor itself was
impressively good considering the ingredients.
