North American Haggis Food

SIMPLIFIED HAGGIS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F/175C.
• Warm the butter in a pan. Finely dice the onion and cook over a medium heat in the butter until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile take any fatty of tough pieces off the chicken livers and roughly chop.
• Add the various spices and thyme to the onion and cook a minute then add the lamb and chicken livers.
• Brown the meat then once it is all cooked, add the stock and cover. Allow to simmer for around 20mins.
• Then add the oatmeal, mix well and transfer to an oven dish (unless you started with a dish that can transfer).
• Cover the dish and put in the oven for 30mins.
• Remove the lid and cook another 10 mins.
• Serve with mashed potatoes and mashed rutabaga/swede.
• Note: I allow around 4oz/110g rutabaga/swede and potato per person, skin them, boil them then add some butter and pepper to the rutabaga/swede and some butter and milk to the potatoes and mash each of them.

NORTH AMERICAN HAGGIS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan.
• In food processor with chopping blade, process together half of the lamb, the liver, water, onion, egg, salt, pepper, sugar, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg until well combined.
• Add the remaining half of the lamb and the oats, process until well combined.
• Spoon lamb mixture into greased pan, pat surface to level.
• Bake 45 to55 minutes or until centre feels firm when gently pressed.
• Cool 5 minutes in pan, unmold onto platter, slice and serve.

HAGGIS

Steps:

• Rinse the stomach thoroughly and soak overnight in cold salted water.
• Rinse the liver, heart, and tongue. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook these parts over medium heat for 2 hours. Remove and mince. Remove any gristle or skin and discard.
• In a large bowl, combine the minced liver, heart, tongue, suet, onions, and toasted oats. Season with salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Moisten with some of the cooking water so the mixture binds. Remove the stomach from the cold salted water and fill 2/3 with the mixture. Sew or tie the stomach closed. Use a turning fork to pierce the stomach several times. This will prevent the haggis from bursting.
• In a large pot of boiling water, gently place the filled stomach, being careful not to splash. Cook over high heat for 3 hours.
• Serve with mashed potatoes, if you serve it at all.

VEGETARIAN HAGGIS

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat, and saute the onion 5 minutes, until tender. Mix in carrot and mushrooms, and continue cooking 5 minutes. Stir in broth, lentils, kidney beans, peanuts, hazelnuts, soy sauce, and lemon juice. Season with thyme, rosemary, cayenne pepper, and mixed spice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in oats, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 5x9 inch baking pan.
• Stir the egg into the saucepan. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Bake 30 minutes, until firm.

THE FRUGAL GOURMET'S HAGGIS

Steps:

• Place the beef heart in a 4-quart covered pot and just cover with cold water.
• Simmer, covered, for 70 minutes.
• Add the beef liver and lamb stew meat and cover; simmer for 20 minutes.
• Remove the contents of the pot and cool.
• Reserve 1 cup of the liquid.
• Grind everything coarsely.
• In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients except the beef caps, vinegar, and salt for soaking; mix well and set aside.
• Rinse the beef caps in cold water; turn them inside out and soak them in 2 quarts of cold water with the salt and vinegar for 30 minutes.
• Drain them and rinse very well, inside and out.
• Divide the meat mixture into three parts; fill the beef caps with the meat mixture and tie the ends off with string.
• Two will have to be tied on just one end, but the third piece will be tied on both ends.
• Prick the Haggis all over with corn holders or a sharp fork.
• Place in a steamer and steam for 80 minutes.
• Serve, sliced, with beef or lamb gravy.
• Don't forget the bagpipes!