Dear Diary,
It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
And the Scots would definitely agree. They dine like a king and queen when it comes to breakfast; no one leaves the table hungry, that’s for sure.
It is by no means a healthy breakfast option, but it has something to offer for every taste bud.
The Scottish fry-up has many ingredients, showing off what Scotland has to offer, and yes, of course, most of them are fried.
What you put on your plate varies throughout the country, but there are some classics you shouldn’t miss out on.
Tattie Scones
Tatties Scones are a traditional Scottish dish. Tatties are potatoes.
I would describe them as fried mashed potatoes that are cut into thin triangles. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside!
Haggis
Another key ingredient that sets the Scottish breakfast apart from its English cousin is the haggis.
Our national dish is made of sheep’s heart, lungs and liver, with grains and spices - love it or hate it, but give it a try first.
Black Pudding
It has nothing to do with a pudding, and it might not be everybody's darling.
Black pudding is a fried blood sausage with oats and spices.
Lorne/Square Sausage
This sausage comes in the form of a square and is made of spicy pork meat.
You’ll usually find it in a morning roll.
Baked Beans
Baked beans are definitely a staple ingredient.
The most famous brand used is Heinz beans in tomato sauce.
Eggs
No proper breakfast without eggs.
You can choose between fried and scrambled here.
Grilled Vegetables
To make it a little healthier, some vegetables are added to the plate.
Often, you’ll find either half a grilled tomato or mushrooms.
Toast
Toast is the perfect accompaniment to soak up all the juices and mop up the egg yolk.
How to make your own Scottish breakfast
Timing is the key here to serving everything still warm.
Start by prepping your ingredients so that they are ready to go.
First up, the black pudding, half tomatoes, fried mushrooms, square sausage and haggis. They can all be fried and take about 10 minutes. Once cooked, put them into the oven to keep warm.
The tattie scones only take a couple of minutes each side.
Next up, make the eggs in a frying pan and heat up the beans in a saucepan.
Lastly, toast your bread.
Plate everything on one big plate and serve with brown sauce and ketchup. Enjoy!