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Sweet or savoury?

  • Traditional Scottish food

    © Paul Brighton/Shutterstock

    Photo of Forfar Birdie

  • Traditional Scottish food

    © Robin Stewart/Shutterstock

    Photo of Cock-a-leekie

  • Traditional Scottish food

    © Alex Helin/Shutterstock

    Photo of Arbroath Smokie

  • Traditional Scottish food

    © Martin Rettenberger/Shutterstock

    Photo of Shortbread

Sweet or savoury?

Sweet or savoury?

Forfar Bridie, Cock-a-leekie, Arbroath Smokie and Shortbread. Have you any idea what these Scottish dishes might be? Would you choose them if you saw them on a menu? In case you didn’t know, they are a meat pastry, a type of soup, smoked haddock and a kind of biscuit.

Like Norway, Scotland is a seafaring nation and fish is an important part of a traditional Scottish diet. Smoked Scottish salmon is known all around the world and competes in the same markets as Norwegian salmon. It’s very popular in China, for example. There is still some wild salmon, but these days far more salmon is farmed.

Not everyone is fond of fish. If you were going to make some food, perhaps you’d prefer something sweet, rather than savoury. Why not try making some Scottish shortbread? Despite its name, it’s actually a kind of sweet biscuit. Originally it was only eaten on special occasions because butter and sugar were expensive. In the old days in the Shetland and Orkney Isles, people used to welcome brides to their new home by breaking a decorated shortbread over the head of the bride and groom! First-footers, people who go from door to door on Hogmanay to welcome in the New Year, are still given some shortbread, as well as a strong drink to keep out the cold.

Read through this recipe for shortbread. Have a look at the exercises before you start baking.

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