Gluten Free Haggis

Rabbie Burns

It’s Burns night and you’re probably itching for a big plate of haggis, neeps and tatties, right?Possibly even with some whisky gravy and a can of Irn Bru just to make it really Scottish! So the question is…where can you find a gluten free haggis?

Haggis is one of the things I knew I was really going to miss when I found out I was coeliac. As a kid it’s not something our family ate on a regular basis but whilst living in Glasgow for three years, my boyfriend and I found ourselves nibbling on the full Scottish delicacy of haggis and the trimings on more than just special occasions. There are a few well known companies like Grant’s (that we used to eat a lot) that make haggis but don’t do a gluten free version. M&S and various other supermarkets also do some pretty good haggis (both meat and veggie) but again nothing gluten free. Where exactly is a hungry lassie to find a wee bit o’ gluten free haggis?

As long as you are not in the States (with their strange ban on real Scottish haggis containing sheep lungs) is looks as though Findlays of Portobello, based in Edinburgh are going to be your best bet. They sell a large variety of gluten free products including chorizo, black pudding, steak burgers, venison burgers and lots of different tasty sounding sausages but most importantly they also sell gluten free haggis! According to their website they managed to source a gluten free oatmeal to replace the traditional oatmeal making it suitable for coeliacs. It’s £4.35 for enough to serve two people and I’m very excited to give it a try. As a result of the US ban this will have to wait until my return to bonnie Scotland so stay tuned for photos and hopefully some raving reviews….

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face

Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!

UPDATE: This haggis is amazing! When I was back in Scotland over the festive period I tried a big plate of it with neeps, tatties and some mango chutney. My Crabbie’s Ginger Beer was the perfect addition to this wonderful, Scottish meal. I’ve tried quite a few different brands of haggis over the years and this one I must say is particularly tasty. It has a lot of flavour and spice to it and it doesn’t taste greasy like some haggis can. The best thing about a dish like haggis is that it can be made safe for celiacs simply by using non-contaminated gluten free oats. No other changes are required so you are still getting the real traditional stuff. I can’t wait to eat it again next time I’m home.

Haggis, neeps and tatties!