Traditional Burns Night menu (2024)

FAQs

Traditional Burns Night menu? ›

The starters usually include Cullen skink (creamy soup with fish), Scotch broth or a leek and potato soup. These are followed by the haggis or some nice chicken with boiled vegetables. As for desserts, a Burns supper usually showcases cranachan or sticky toffee pudding.

The meal traditionally features haggis, neeps and tatties (swede and potatoes) and a dram of whisky is non-negotiable. We've put together our perfect Burns Night menu below, but for more Burns Night menu ideas check out our collection of recipes.

While there is no formal greeting for Burns Night, people generally say “Sláinte Mhath” to one another. This is pronounced “slanj'-uh va” and translates as “Good Health!”. You can also say “Oidhche Bhlas Burns”, which means “Happy Burns Night”. These could be fun messages to include in your designs.

Haggis, Neeps And Tatties

If following the standard running order of Burns Night, a haggis will be ceremoniously brought to the dining table before being addressed in a poem and cut open with a knife. Haggis is a savoury pudding consisting of sheep's pluck, minced onion, oats, spices, and stock.

Speaking of drinks, it wouldn't be a proper Scottish celebration or Burns Night without the mention of whisky. A staple part of Scottish culture, having a glass or two of whisky to celebrate is a must.

To start – everyone gathers, the host says a few words, everyone sits and the Selkirk Grace is said. The meal – the starter is served, the haggis is piped in, the host performs the famous Burns Night haggis poem Address to a Haggis, everyone toasts the haggis and the main meal is served, followed by dessert.

Cranachan. A classic Scottish dessert, cranachan is a beautiful medley of double cream, toasted oats, raspberries, honey and a great big slosh of whisky. It's the perfect ending to a Burns Night feast.

Traditionally guests of a formal Burns Supper would wear Scottish Highland Dress, but these days anything goes. To save on buying new, kilts can be rented. Or, for a more affordable option, check out what's being sold on sites like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace as you can often find barely worn options.

Many celebrating Burns Night look to embrace the Scottish Gaelic. People traditionally greet each other with the phrase "Sláinte Mhath!" which translates to "Good Health!" - it's pronounced "slanj'-uh va'". If you want to directly translate the words "Happy Burns Night" you could try "Oidhche Bhlas Burns".

A short but important prayer read to usher in the meal, The Selkirk Grace is also known as Burns's Grace at Kirkcudbright . Although the text is often printed in English, it is usually recited in Scots.

What is the traditional starter for Burns Night Supper? ›

Let everyone warm up with a bowl of cullen skink. This traditional soup originates from the Scottish town of Cullen and combines haddock, potatoes, milk, onion and parsley to make a comforting, yet relatively light, starter. Top with chopped chives and serve with crusty bread, if you like.

Well, “neeps” is just the Scots word for swede – that hard winter vegetable that people also use in soups and stews. You might also hear Scottish people saying “nips”, which is much more obviously short for “turnips”. It's a hard job to peel and chop the neeps, and then we boil and mash, then add a bit of seasoning.

After the meal, the speeches and entertainment begin in earnest, starting with a toast to the monarch, known as the Loyal Toast. This is followed by the main toast of the night, to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns. The Immortal Memory should be a heartfelt toast to his life and works.

Serve up a Scottish supper to remember with a classic smoked fish soup and the essential haggis, neeps and tatties - all rounded off with a traditional clootie dumpling. Delicious!

There is no official Burns Night greeting but it's common to say “Sláinte Mhath!” to one another, which translates as “Good Health!” and is pronounced “slanj'-uh va'”. If you want to wish someone a “Happy Burns Night” in Scottish Gaelic, then you can say “Oidhche Bhlas Burns”.

Traditionally, a Burns Supper consists of a meal of haggis neeps and tatties - topped with a creamy whisky sauce. Followed by a whisky infused, Cranachan dessert and washed down with a dram or three. Follow this recipe for a perfect whisky sauce.

Bonfire Night Food Traditions: Hot Dogs & Burgers

Hot dogs and burgers have become iconic staples of Bonfire Night celebrations, and for good reason. They're delicious and easy to eat gathered around a warm fire with loved ones.

For a delicious way to start any Burns Night feast ,rustle up a batch of Jamie's oat blinis (a super simple batter) and serve with an earthy beetroot and celeriac slaw and some silky smoked salmon. A simple yet sophisticated starter!

Ladies might wear: A long dress or tartan skirt in their clan tartan or universal tartan. A blouse. A plain dress for a tartan sash to go over.

A cooked haggis Haggis, neeps and tatties on a plate. At the end of the poem, a whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, and the company will sit down to the meal. The haggis is traditionally served with mashed potatoes (tatties) and mashed swede turnip (neeps).