# How should I eat my canned haggis? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982 "2007-01-14T21:37:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/21 "2007-01-15T05:24:13Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] It’s Lutefisk, **Deth.**. Just for the record, have any of you besides **Johnny L.A.** actually eaten canned haggis? I mean, maybe it’s not as bad as it sounds. [/QUOTE] It could hardly be \*worse \*than it sounds… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/22 "2007-01-15T05:24:31Z")
No. But I have had fresh on three occ, and _once_ when everything was very fresh and very well prepared, it was OK. Thus, I assume that canned can’t be very fresh. If I am wrong, and it’s one of those rare foods that ttstes better canned than fresh, then I’ll buy and eat a can. Lutefish made me gag. Literally. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/23 "2007-01-15T05:31:41Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] [This](http://www.thebritishshoppe.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=HAGTR&Category_Code=HAGGIS&Store_Code=TBSRJTC) is the brand I get. Not much choice, really. That’s all I’ve found. (There’s a place that makes fresh haggis, but I’ve never been able to get there when they’ve had it.) [/QUOTE] They also have canned Spotted Dick! But, alas, no canned faggots. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/24 "2007-01-15T05:54:23Z")
In **Highlander** : Sean Connery: \ What is haggis? Christopher Lambert: A sheep’s stomach stuffed with meat and barley! SC: What do you do with it? CL: You eat it! SC: \ How revolting! If tough guy Sean Connery is repelled…run! Run for your lives! ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/25 "2007-01-15T05:56:57Z")
Errrr… Metaphorically? Not to add to the chorus but, Canned? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/26 "2007-01-15T06:22:42Z")
With a\* lot\* of Scotch. My theory is that haggis was invented as an excuse to drink Scotch because you need something to wash it down and take the taste away. ---
**Author:** ![Revedge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecae2f/32.png) [@Revedge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revedge)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/27 "2007-01-15T08:20:34Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] I saw this can of haggis in the international grocery, and I’ve always wanted to try haggis so I bought it. I’m sure that it is nothing compared to the real thing. How do I eat it? I know nothing about haggis. [/QUOTE] It will taste best if you do not remove the can. Or, Remove frocan and place in pot. Put brick in pot with the haggis. Heat until brick turns a darker red. Eat Brick. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/28 "2007-01-15T08:29:01Z")
Am I confused, or is haggis really nothing more than a kind of sausage? From the descriptions I have heard, it doesn’t sound a whole lot different to a pig intestine stuffed with spiced, ground “variety” meats and cereal filler (otherwise known as a hot dog.) I’ve had canned spotted dick. Turns out it’s raisin bread! Who’d’a thunk it? ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/29 "2007-01-15T08:35:48Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] I’ve had canned spotted dick. Turns out it’s raisin bread! Who’d’a thunk it? [/QUOTE] I am in awe of someone who’d eat something called ‘spotted dick’ who didn’t know it was a cake. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/30 "2007-01-15T09:12:50Z")
I’ve had canned haggis. It tasted almost exactly like (canned) corned beef hash, maybe slightly more oniony. If I hadn’t opened the can myself, I’d have assumed on tasting that that’s what it was. [QUOTE=DrDeth] There’s worse “national foods” (what’s that Swedish lye-dipped cod-crap called?) [/QUOTE] Ah, lutefisk. My understanding, from years of living in Minnesota where you’re supposed to eat it, is that it’s not eaten in Scandinavia–it’s a purely immigrant food (supposedly started when the lye-stored fish on the boats went bad.) I’ve had it (lutefisk) served to me, but never tasted it. A cousin of mine described its appearance perfectly: “boiled snot.” ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/31 "2007-01-15T09:19:01Z")
Haggis? Best appreciated at gunpoint. The flavor says “It can’t get any worse!” but the faint odor of Cordite and linseed oil says “Oh yes it can!” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/32 "2007-01-15T10:06:13Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] Am I confused, or is haggis really nothing more than a kind of sausage? From the descriptions I have heard, it doesn’t sound a whole lot different to a pig intestine stuffed with spiced, ground “variety” meats and cereal filler (otherwise known as a hot dog.) [/QUOTE] Yes, it’s certainly a sausage by any scientific definition, but that probably doesn’t help, because you could put just about _anything_ in a casing - it’s the _ingredients_ that make it what it is. I think haggis is more like hamburger or meatloaf than sausage, but that’s probably still a bit like saying tangerines are more like otters than ocelots. Haggis is a very distinctive foodstuff, worth trying just to say that you’ve been there. A good haggis is actually worth eating purely on its own virtues, but it does seem unlikely that the canned variety will be excellent. I’d say you have a can of something resembling unusual meatloaf. Slice and fry it, if it looks like it will stand that treatment. ---
**Author:** ![hackysack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4491bb/32.png) [@hackysack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hackysack)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/33 "2007-01-15T10:41:57Z")
As a Scot I dabble with a spicy haggis about once a month, dipped in batter and deep-fried from the chipper. It’s brilliant. If you want to do that I would add some heat to it with chilli powder or whatever and then freeze it before battering it and deep-frying (to stop it from breaking apart). My friend makes moussaka with haggis instead of mince and it’s great. Or you could just stuff a chicken with it. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/34 "2007-01-15T10:55:41Z")
Canned haggis? It’s just plain wrong! I buy mine from [here](http://www.scottishhaggis.co.uk/acatalog/) although I doubt they ship outside the UK. If you’re having it with neeps and tatties, make sure your neeps are the right sort! You want the orange ones, not the white ones… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/35 "2007-01-15T11:02:41Z")
[QUOTE=ScareyFaerie] If you’re having it with neeps and tatties, make sure your neeps are the right sort! You want the orange ones, not the white ones… [/QUOTE] So that would actually be swede rather than turnip. Swede is known as rutabaga in some parts of the world. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/36 "2007-01-15T12:27:49Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] So that would actually be swede rather than turnip. Swede is known as rutabaga in some parts of the world. [/QUOTE] Isn’t a swede a yellow turnip? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/37 "2007-01-15T12:37:57Z")
I have to say this is the first time in a while I’ve read something that’s made me laugh so hard I’m crying… ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/38 "2007-01-15T12:40:53Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] So that would actually be swede rather than turnip. Swede is known as rutabaga in some parts of the world. [/QUOTE] Yes it would. In Scotland, Swede is called turnip which makes life very confusing especially when you live with a Scotsman who constantly insists that he’s right when I know perfectly well that swede is orange… Apparently it was originally called Swedish Turnip! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/39 "2007-01-15T13:34:36Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Haggis is a very distinctive foodstuff, worth trying just to say that you’ve been there. [/QUOTE] Were I a meat-eater, I think I’d have no choice but to try it. Fortunately, I can fall back on my vegetarianism here. There is a recipe for [vegan haggis](http://www.vegan-food.net/recipe/113/Haggis/) , but that does seem to be truly unneccesary. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982/40 "2007-01-15T14:16:31Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Isn’t a swede a yellow turnip? [/QUOTE] No, although they are quite closely related; swede is _Brassica napus_ - botanically the same species as Rape(seed), turnips are _Brassica rapa_ - botanically the same species as Bok Choi (the white ‘chinese leaves’ cabbage) It is worth noting, however, that _Brassica_ species are often quite promiscuous/interfertile, which may indicate that the gaps between the species are not all that broad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-eat-my-canned-haggis/387982.md?page=3)