The traditional foods of Scotland and Wales are currently enjoying a new popularity on the cooking scene. The simple, straightforward recipes and reliance on healthy vegetables have provided a new look for these traditional foods.
The Traditional Foods of Scotland
Scotland enjoys cooking traditions and pastimes that differ from the rest of the United Kingdom. While influenced by Britain and some European cuisine, the foods of Scotland are somewhat unique and are based on the game, fish and foods found in the country.
Because of the poverty and mobile nature of the Scottish people, many of their foods required to be preserved so that it would not spoil. It was common for these foods to be carries in small bags with porridge or oatmeal to keep the food edible.
Haggis: Perhaps the most well known of all Scottish foods, haggis is a pudding that contains the heart, liver and lungs of a sheep mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt. The pudding is encased in the stomach of the animal, though most commercial haggis uses a sausage casing instead. Haggis is the national food of Scotland.
Sliced Sausage: Another food that is most often consumed in Scotland, this type of sausage consists of pork or beef that is set into the shape of a square, but not bound as with traditional sausage. This type of sausage is a favorite for breakfast in Scotland and still very popular today.
The traditional foods of Wales enjoys a different influence than their Scottish counterparts. This is because Welsh cuisine has been more influenced from Britain and the countryside of Wales itself, which has plenty of beef and dairy cattle.
Welsh cooking favors meats, including seafood on the coastal areas and leek, the national vegetable of Wales. Welsh cooking may not have a signature dish, but Welsh rabbit certainly comes close along with roast lamb in a fresh mint sauce.
There are a number of dishes and food items associated with Wales, including the following;
Cawl: This is a stew particular to the land of Wales that features lambs and leeks.
Bara Brith: Otherwise known as “speckled bread”, this is sweet bread that was created in Wales and features candied peel, Zante current and raisins.
Cockles: This is a very popular food item in Wales and used in a number of recipes as well as served with meals. Normally, the cockles are steamed when being prepared.
Laverbread: Laver is a seaweed delicacy in Wales and is prepared into bread by being mixed with oatmeal and fried in bacon fat.
Shepherd’s Pie: A type of lamb meat pie that is created with mash potatoes, although many think of this as an English dish, it is quite often associated with Wales as well.
Tatws Pum Munud: This is a traditional Welsh stew that is made from vegetables, bacon and potatoes which is cooked on top of the stove until it’s ready to serve.
The traditional foods of Scotland and Wales offer plenty of healthy choices for those who love meats, vegetables and delicacies not often found in other areas of Europe.
