Every year on or around January 25th, Scots and their friends sit down to a Burns Night Supper honouring the poet Rabbie Burns.

At these suppers, revellers traditionally eat a chieftain haggis, recite lines of Burns poetry, drink drams of whisky, and generally have a good time. But there are always some at these events who are nervous of trying haggis.

If your Burns Night Supper guests fall into this category, try some of these simple starters and nibbles to cater for those who are trying haggis for the first time.

Haggis Baubles

Created by Karon Grieve of Larder Love, haggis baubles are an excellent introduction to what famed haggis producer James Macsween calls, ‘the scared trinity of haggis, neeps and tatties’.

The traditional ingredients are prepared as usual, but then in a simple twist, they are rolled into large marble sized morsels and deep fried.

They look brilliant served on cocktail sticks alongside a  haggis sauce with malt and rich redcurrant .

Haggis Nachos

Who’d be terrified of a movie night staple like nachos? Include all the trimmings. That means sour cream, salsa, guacamole, jalapeños, and plenty of melted cheese. And in this case, haggis too!

Pre-cook the haggis before putting it on top of a pile of corn chips, smothering it in grated cheese and grilling it until it melts, then serving with all of the above piled on the top.

Burns Night Chicken Thighs

The delicious aromas rising from Dom in the Kitchen’s Burns Night Chicken Thighs should be enough to tempt the most timid haggis taster. As the haggis is an added flavour to a familiar dish, it is not asking too much either. Described as tasting like “a roast chicken cooked by my grandma which is always good” it is well worth a try on Burns Night or any other night!

Burns may have been intrigued by to the some of these modern twist on haggis dishes but he’d have enjoyed the idea of good food and a dram with friends. This year, make sure you don’t leave the non-haggis eaters out and introduce them to an exciting new taste sensation.

Buy haggis online here and we’ll deliver to your door anywhere in the UK.