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What is a Scottish Breakfast?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 68,138
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A Scottish breakfast is a cooked breakfast which contains an assortment of traditional Scottish foods. In Scotland, many inns boast about their Scottish breakfasts, which may be offered with some less traditionally Scottish items like fresh fruit and cold cereal as well. Scottish inns also tend to feature local ingredients, encouraging people to eat Scottish products and to source their food locally, when possible. It is also common to see organic and ethically produced foods in a Scottish breakfast at a high-end inn.

A full Scottish breakfast might include: toast, beans, fried haggis, potato hash, eggs, back bacon, potato scones, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, Lorne sausage, black pudding, oatcakes, kippers, and porridge, although a breakfast with all of these ingredients might be a bit excessive. The breakfast is also typically paired with Scottish dairy products including milk and cream, along with Scottish jams and preserves. It may be served with black tea and orange juice as well.

Toast is a quintessential and therefore not terribly surprising inclusion in a breakfast, with Scottish toast tending to be thick, and often being whole grain as well. Fried beans are often served over toast, and scrambled or poached eggs may be served as well. Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made with stuffed sheep's stomach, and it may be fried for breakfast to add some crunch and flavor.

Potato hash or wedges is a common feature in breakfasts around the world, and the Scottish also use potatoes in their baked goods, as evidenced by the inclusion of potato scones. Potato scones in Scotland are a bit different than scones in other regions of the world; they may also be called tattie scones, and they are more like soft cakes than scones.

Lorne sausage is a type of sausage which is made in a loaf pan; you may also hear it called “square slice,” while black pudding is a sausage made with blood as well as meat, creating a very dark, rich sausage. Kippers are smoked herring slices, typically very aromatic and flavorful; they can be eaten plain or on toast, and they may be served hot.

As you might imagine, a Scottish breakfast can be very filling, and it is designed to fuel laborers for a busy day in the field. In addition to being on offer at inns, the Scottish breakfast is often included on diner menus, with consumers choosing from a number of options or mixing and matching ingredients to taste.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon182387 — On Jun 02, 2011

@Giraffeears: Who was your roommate and what clan was he from?

By GiraffeEars — On Aug 01, 2010

The article listed all of the most popular Scottish breakfast foods except for Scotch eggs and Scottish Crumpets.

One of my best friends is of Scottish heritage and he was a chef. We were roommates for a while, and he would often make Scotch eggs and crumpets for breakfast.

Scotch eggs are essentially boiled eggs wrapped in sausage, flour, and breading, then fried to perfection. Crumpets are small pancakes that are leavened with yeast. They are different from American pancakes because they have extra baking soda that creates tiny holes on top. They are also moister and chewier than the common pancake.

By leilani — On Sep 01, 2008

Sounds like a great breakfast with many options. Since breakfast is a very important meal, probably the most important meal of the day, it seems that Scottish breakfast is exactly the right thing. A balance between healthy protein and good carbs.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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