Haggis with neeps and tatties
Without a doubt the top of the list of uniquely Scottish dishes is Haggis.
Made from sheep's or calf's offal mixed with suet, oatmeal, and seasoning and boiled in a bag, traditionally one made from the animal's stomach, it is a remarkably tasty dish worth trying if you have not been put off by the description. It is usually served with mashed tatties (potatoes) and neeps (which are turnips or also called swede elsewhere in the UK) and a whiskey sauce.
Scottish Salmon
This will not be missing on any menu. Scottish salmon is a mild flavoured salmon, primarily farmed off the north-west coast of Scotland. The icy waters and strong currents produce salmon that is high in fat-content. The flavour of the smoked salmon usually comes from oak barrels or old whiskey barrel chips. Scottish smoked salmon is considered among the best in the world.
Arbroath Smokies
‘Smokies’ are whole wood-smoked haddock with the backbone still intact. They are still produced in small family smokehouses in the east coast fishing town of Arbroath in Scotland. You'll know when you're eating a genuine Arbroath smokie, as no other smoked haddock looks or tastes quite like it. The outside of the fish has a coppery brown colour and the flesh is creamy with a luscious savoury flavour.
White pudding (& black pudding)
Whilst most of us are familiar with black pudding, the rich pork sausage made from pig's blood and fat and cereal, white pudding is a traditional Scottish oatmeal dish (also found in Ireland) made with tripe skins that are filled with toasted oatmeal, onions, beef suet, spices and seasoning. Some butchers also use pork meat. Served with mince and potatoes, you can also find it at chip shops, battered and deep fried served with chips. Some Scots like to eat slices of both black and white pudding fried along with their cooked breakfast.
Potted Hough
This delicacy is available from most butchers in Scotland. The word 'hough' is the Scottish word for shin and it is usually made from the beef shin, boiled, shredded of the bone and set in its own natural jelly in small individual dishes.
Cranachan (Cream Crowdie)
Cranachan is a Scottish dessert served with raspberries. Traditionally it was eaten in rural areas at harvest time; when people would make their own combinations of berries with cream, crowdie (skimmed cottage cheese) toasted oatmeal, heather honey and whiskey.
Porridge (Porage)
If you have never had porridge, you may just have been missing out on the breakfast meal that that has been sustaining the Scots for centuries, and by far the most healthy item on this list. Originally the oats were boiled with water and salt but these days you can find endless fancy variations with fruit,nuts, honey and cream.
And finally for the really brave (or foolish) out there...
Deep fried Battered Mars Bar
Two chip shops in Scotland claim to have invented this super unhealthy 'heart attack on a plate' although one can see how after a heavy drinking session this could just be the perfect desert.