How to cook haggis

Baked haggis split open on a serving platter

What's the best way to cook haggis?

There are various ways to cook haggis, depending on how much time you have or the desired texture:

How to boil haggis in water

Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the haggis and reduce to a simmer. Time according to weight – McLays recommends boiling a 1kg natural-cased haggis for an hour and 15 minutes. To serve, carefully slit open the casing and tip the filling onto a plate.

How to bake haggis in the oven

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the outer packaging, prick with a fork and wrap in foil as you would a baked potato, then cook in the oven an hour per 450g. Serve as above.

Make our traditional baked haggis for Burns Night. Or, try our vegan haggis recipe for a veggie alternative.

How to serve haggis

Serve hot with neeps & tatties and whisky cream sauce. Haggis also works well with leeks or carrots. For pudding, follow your haggis main with our clootie dumpling or another classic Scottish dessert, cranachan.

Haggis neeps and tatties on a grey plate next to a knife and fork

The history of haggis

Its origins are shrouded in obscurity, although it is known to be an ancient dish, as 15th century recipes mention a haggis or haggas pudding. The name may come from the Scandinavian 'hag', meaning to hack or chop, or from the Anglo-Saxon 'haecan' - to hack into pieces. Another explanation is that it comes from the French 'hachis', or the Icelandic 'hoggva', also meaning to hack or chop.

Where to buy haggis

If you don't live near a traditional Scottish butcher, try one of these online alternatives, or alternatively ask at your local supermarket:

Macsween is one of the biggest haggis brands in Scotland. They have a wealth of options online, including a vegetarian version, haggis canapes and venison haggis, from around £5. Order from the Macsween site.

Glasgow-based butcher McLays make traditional haggis in natural casing. Prices start at £6.50. Order from the McLays site.

Ayrshire butcher Pollok Williamson sell a range of haggis from £1.49, including chip shop-friendly haggis sausages specially shaped for deep-frying, should you be feeling particularly decadent. Order from the Pollok Williamson site.

The Blackface Meat Company sell haggis celebration boxes. We like their recommendation of using any leftovers in stuffing. Order from the Blackface site.

What to look for when buying haggis

The best haggis is moist, firm and flavoursome. Every Scottish butcher has his or her own recipe, made according to the basic recipe, which has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, with the addition of their own exclusive blend of seasonings, herbs and spices.

Serving haggis at Burns Night

Haggis is really thrown into the spotlight around Burns Night. Several tons of haggis are exported throughout the world for celebration suppers, including modern variations such as smoked haggis and a vegetarian haggis made with oatmeal, vegetarian suet, lentils, beans, nuts, carrots, onions and other vegetables packed into a synthetic casing. Surprisingly, haggis is very popular in France, where it is served in top Parisian restaurants!