Potted Hough Delicious Starter for a Haggis Supper

Set the tone for your haggis supper with this traditional Scottish delight—Potted Hough, a richly flavorful starter that pays homage to heritage cooking. This recipe features slow-cooked beef shin, gently simmered with aromatic vegetables, bay leaves, and allspice berries until melt-in-your-mouth tender. The shredded beef is then combined with a touch of buttery richness, parsley, and a hint of its savory cooking liquid to create a luxuriously smooth texture. Packed into charming ramekins and served alongside rustic oatcakes or crusty bread, this dish is the perfect prelude to your haggis feast. With its hearty ingredients and warm, comforting flavors, Potted Hough not only honors Scotland's culinary traditions but also sets the stage for an unforgettable meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:180 mins

Total Time:200 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 grams Beef shin (hough), bone-in
• 1 medium Carrot, chopped
• 1 medium Celery stalk, chopped
• 1 medium Onion, chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 pieces Bay leaves
• 4 pieces Allspice berries
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black pepper
• 500 milliliters Beef stock
• 100 grams Butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons Parsley, finely chopped
• 8 pieces Oatcakes or crusty bread (for serving)

Directions

Step 1

Place the beef shin, carrot, celery, onion, and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven.

Step 2

Add the bay leaves, allspice berries, salt, and black pepper to the pot.

Step 3

Pour in the beef stock, ensuring the beef is fully submerged. Add water if needed.

Step 4

Bring the pot to a boil over medium heat, then lower to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 2.5 to 3 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender and falling off the bone.

Step 5

Remove the beef from the pot and set aside to cool slightly. Strain the cooking liquid and reserve 100 milliliters for later use. Discard the vegetables and spices.

Step 6

Shred the beef finely using two forks, discarding any bones, gristle, or excess fat.

Step 7

Place the shredded beef in a mixing bowl and add the reserved cooking liquid, melted butter, and chopped parsley. Stir well until combined and the mixture is moist but not overly wet.

Step 8

Spoon the beef mixture into ramekins or small serving dishes, pressing down gently to pack it tightly.

Step 9

Cover the ramekins with cling film and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the mixture to set.

Step 10

Before serving, bring the ramekins to room temperature. Serve with oatcakes or slices of crusty bread for an authentic Scottish starter.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1636.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2805.0

Total Fat 175.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 81.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 568.3mg	0%
Sodium 5966.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 164.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 23.2g	0%
Total Sugars 14.7g
Protein 133.8g	0%

Vitamin D 49.3IU	0%
Calcium 438.9mg	0%
Iron 20.0mg	0%
Potassium 3095.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 57.0%

Protein: 19.3%

Carbs: 23.7%