38 Scots Inspired Burns Night Supper Recipe Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What is a typical Burns Night menu? ›

Serve up a Scottish supper to remember with a classic smoked fish soup and the essential haggis, neeps and tatties - all rounded off with a traditional clootie dumpling. Delicious!

Haggis, neeps and tatties is a classic main course for a Burns Supper, sometimes people have haggis starters such as deep fried haggis bonbons!

Our modern Burns Night menu from chef Roberta Hall-McCarron is a little bit different but equally delicious. One thing's for sure, the traditional Scottish dessert cranachan is the pudding for the job, and a wee dram of whisky is non-negotiable.

Speaking of drinks, it wouldn't be a proper Scottish celebration or Burns Night without the mention of whisky. A staple part of Scottish culture, having a glass or two of whisky to celebrate is a must.

When attending a Burns supper, the most traditional option for ladies is a kilted skirt. Our kilted skirts look lovely paired with a blouse and accessorised with a tartan sash or brooch for a more traditional style. Tartan dresses can also be worn for a formal Burns Supper and look great with plain or tartan heels.

In some regions, particularly the west coast of Scotland and Outer Hebrides, "O Flower of Scotland" is sung immediately preceding the Selkirk Grace. All the guests are then seated and grace is said, usually using the "Selkirk Grace", a well-known thanksgiving said before meals that uses the Scots language.

After the meal, the speeches and entertainment begin in earnest, starting with a toast to the monarch, known as the Loyal Toast. This is followed by the main toast of the night, to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns. The Immortal Memory should be a heartfelt toast to his life and works.

Learn how to say happy Burns Night in Scottish Gaelic, by saying Oidhche Bhlas Burns or Sláinte Mhath which translates to 'good health'! Planning to travel to Scotland for Burns Night? Our Larne to Cairnryan route operates 6 crossings a day if you're travelling from Northern Ireland.

Which vegetable is traditional for Burns Night? ›

The star of most Burns Night dinners is a plate of haggis, neeps, and tatties — generous servings of the Scottish delicacy with spoonfuls of mashed turnips (or rutabagas) and potatoes, per Christina's Cucina.

Neeps are what Scots, Irish and a lot of Northern English people call turnips - ie the big orange veg. Others call those a swede. The wee white ones - whether you call those a turnip or not - are not part of a 'neeps and tatties' recipe.

Our traditional cullen skink recipe (a Scottish fish-based soup) is a great way to kick things off. You simply can't celebrate Burns Night without the classic haggis, 'neeps and tatties', aka mashed potatoes and swede. A rich whisky sauce is an ideal accompaniment to this flavourful dish too.

Burns Night is a time to enjoy Scottish traditions and celebrate the renowned poet Robert Burns with a classic combination of haggis, neeps, tatties, some reciting of poetry, and maybe even a warming dram.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the pudding-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm : Weel are ye wordy o'a grace As lang's my arm.

Main course. A cooked haggis Haggis, neeps and tatties on a plate. At the end of the poem, a whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, and the company will sit down to the meal.

Selkirk Grace is a poem commonly attributed to Robert Burns, a widely celebrated Scottish poet. It's often used on Burn's night as a giving of thanks before guests tuck into their Burn's night dinner.

Many suppers now include a whisky sauce to accompany the haggis. If haggis is the intermediate course, it's often followed by a main of Scottish salmon, Scottish beef, a steak pie or game such as grouse or pheasant. This would be accompanied by potatoes and seasonal vegetables.