The MacSween Haggis Bible

by Jo Macsween

The MacSween Haggis Bible

£4.99

‘As entertaining as it is thought-provoking’ – Neil Drysdale

Scotland’s National dish is the source of endless jokes and horror stories, yet continues to provoke curiosity around the world. With an ancient history and an eight-verse tribute penned by Robert Burns, haggis is a Scottish cultural icon. So how did it come to acquire its bad boy image and earn such mixed reviews, ranging from the devotion of its fans to the deep revulsion of the uninitiated? In this informative and light-hearted book, Jo Macsween of the famous family of Edinburgh haggis makers, expertly guides you through the myths and magic to a new realm of haggis appreciation that transcends neeps, tatties and Burns Night. Featuring fifty mouth-watering recipes, Jo rewrites the rules and demonstrates that haggis is a versatile ingredient that can be savoured at all times of day and throughout the year. She even dares to challenge the long-standing association of haggis with whisky, and recommends a new coterie of drinking companions.

A recipe from the book:

Serves 2

• 225g vegetarian haggis
• 2 red peppers
• 2 handfuls grated cheddar, crumbled feta or halloumi
• jar of pesto (optional)
• extra virgin olive oil (optional)
• Preheat the grill to medium/high heat.

Cut the red peppers in half, lengthways. Keep the stalks attached to help the peppers keep their shape while cooking, but scoop out the seeds. Place the peppers under the grill with the outside facing up. Once the peppers have softened a bit and the outsides are beginning to char nicely, remove from the heat, turn the peppers over and fill the insides with the vegetarian haggis. Sprinkle the cheese on the top and place under the grill again until hot and bubbling.

If you want to smarten the presentation a bit, you could thin a bit of pesto with some extra virgin olive oil

and swirl it round the pepper on the plate.

And here are some more recipes below to tickle your fancy:

Jo Macsween is a haggis aficionado, food lover and blogger. She grew up doing her homework in the offices of her family’s butcher’s shop, inhaling the wonderful aroma of freshly steamed haggis. Eventually joining the business in 1992, she is the driving force behind the evolution of Macsween of Edinburgh into a national brand synonymous with haggis-making excellence. Jo continues to be a passionate and enthusiastic ambassador for haggis, introducing a new generation to the virtues of this much maligned dish.