VEGETARIAN SCOTCH EGGS
What are Scotch eggs?
Scotch eggs are traditionally soft or hard-boiled eggs encased in sausage meat and coated in breadcrumbs before they are deep fried or baked.
ARE VEGETARIAN SCOTCH EGGS SCOTTISH?
They aren't actually Scottish, even though they are called 'Scotch' eggs. Scotch is an old term for Scottish.
They are said to have been invented by Fortnum & Mason back in 1738.
They're very popular in Scotland and these vegetarian Scotch eggs are made with vegetarian haggis instead of sausage meat, so definitely Scottish.
Vegetarian haggis is available in Supermarkets (unfortunately in the meat aisle) or online from haggis.co.uk, they deliver in the UK and internationally.
VARIATIONS
You could also use veggie sausages to make these, just mash them first, so they can be moulded around the egg.
Alternatively, you could use a falafel mixture.
Homemade falafel mix, not cooked falafel, which would not mould around the eggs.
WHICH EGGS?
You may be surprised to see an egg recipe as most of my recipes are vegan these days.
While we mostly eat a vegan diet, my son and I are veggie. So vegans look away.
Scotch eggs are made with either soft boiled or hard-boiled eggs.
The size doesn't matter, the bigger the egg, the bigger the Scotch egg. Of course do make sure they are free range.
THE COATING
The eggs are wrapped in a soft mixture of veggie haggis, peanut butter and spices. You could also mash veggie sausages and mix that with the peanut butter and spices.
You can make the soft coating as spicy as you like.
THE CRUMB TOPPING
You can also coat the eggs with homemade breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs.
You can add spices to the crumb topping as well as adding it to the soft coating.
PICNIC EGGS
Scotch eggs are also known as picnic eggs or tiffin eggs.
Whatever you call them they're are a breeze to make and yes they are perfect for picnics, but they are also good for lunch boxes and for dinner with a salad.
They are a real comfort food and very satisfying. The filling wraps itself around the egg like a hug.
For more Scottish recipes have a look at my recipe index of Scottish Recipes for Vegans and Vegetarians
WHAT IS VEGETARIAN HAGGIS?
If you don't live in Scotland you may not have tried or heard of veggie haggis, although it is now recognised more around the world.
It's a tasty mixture of finely diced and cooked vegetables, spices, seeds, oats and pulses.
I won't tell you what's in original haggis (you can thank me for that), but vegetarian haggis is made of lots of yummy bits and pieces and is usually suitable for vegans too. It's a real treat.
It comes like a big, fat sausage in a plastic coating.
It's ready to use in dishes like a savoury mince. You can use it to make veggie haggis burgers, pasties, pies and beer battered haggis balls which are delicious.
I've also heard of people making filo pies, sausage rolls, toasties and stovies with it. I make slow cooker stovies with veggie mince.
You'll see a selection of recipes at the end of the post.
HOMEMADE VEGETARIAN HAGGIS
If you can't get hold of vegetarian haggis, it is possible to make your own.
Johanna over at Green Gourmet Giraffe has a excellent recipe for veggie haggis.
Or you can buy it online from haggis.co.uk (and no I'm not working with them).
Johanna over at Green Gourmet Giraffe has a excellent recipe for veggie haggis.
Or you can buy it online from haggis.co.uk (and no I'm not working with them).
MORE RECIPES USING VEGETARIAN HAGGIS
- Red Peppers Stuffed with Veggie Haggis & Mushrooms - Planet Veggie
- Veggie Haggis, Mash & Baked Bean Pasties - Tinned Tomatoes
- Vegan Haggis Burgers - Allotment 2 Kitchen
- Vegetarian Haggis Wellington - Inside the Wendy House
- Vegan Haggis & Red Lentil Loaf - Tinned Tomatoes
- Vegan Beer Battered Haggis Bites - Tinned Tomatoes
BURNS NIGHT
These Scotch eggs are really a summer recipe, but we traditionally serve haggis on Burns Night here in Scotland. so they would be great to serve on Burns Night.
Robert or Rabbie Burns as we also know him was our national poet.
He wrote romantic, funny and thought-provoking poems as well as ballads.
He was born in Ayrshire in Scotland on 25 January 1759 and only lived until he was 37 years old, but three centuries later we still celebrate his birthday with Robert Burns poems, Burns Suppers (which of course involve haggis, whisky, kilts and bagpipes) and ceilidhs.
So why not make Vegetarian Scotch Eggs next Burns Night and celebrate him with us?
Robert or Rabbie Burns as we also know him was our national poet.
He wrote romantic, funny and thought-provoking poems as well as ballads.
He was born in Ayrshire in Scotland on 25 January 1759 and only lived until he was 37 years old, but three centuries later we still celebrate his birthday with Robert Burns poems, Burns Suppers (which of course involve haggis, whisky, kilts and bagpipes) and ceilidhs.
So why not make Vegetarian Scotch Eggs next Burns Night and celebrate him with us?
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE VEGETARIAN SCOTCH EGGS
- Hard boiled eggs
- Vegetarian haggis (or mashed vegetarian sausages)
- Porridge oats
- Flax seeds (optional)
- Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth)
- Ground cumin
- Dried coriander
- Black pepper
HOW TO SERVE VEGETARIAN SCOTCH EGGS
- On their own - they are really filling.
- With chutney - for that extra piquance
- For lunch - with salad
- For dinner - with tatties, neeps and gravy for dinner
- Buffet dinner - serve with salad, crunch vegetables, coleslaw, pickles and olives.
CHUTNEYS & PICKLES TO SERVE WITH SCOTCH EGGS
- Apple & Red Onion Chutney
- Easy 10 Minute Pickled Onions
- Homemade Cheeseboard Chutney
- Hot Mango Chutney
- Plum & Apricot Chutney
- Red Pepper Sweet Chilli Sauce
- Smutty Sweet Chilli Jam
pin it for later
HOW LONG CAN SCOTCH EGGS BE STORED IN THE FRIDGE?
Cooked Scotch eggs will can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Uncooked Scotch eggs can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
CAN SCOTCH EGGS BE FROZEN?
Yes, Scotch eggs can be frozen before they are baked or deep fried.
They can be frozen for 3-4 months.
To reheat them from frozen, defrost them in the fridge overnight, then bake or deep fry them until cooked through and crisp.
Vegetarian Scotch Eggs
Yield: 4
Prep time: 10 MCook time: 20 MTotal time: 30 M
Vegetarian picnic eggs also known as vegetarian Scotch eggs. This traditional picnic food is brought up to date with a filling of veggie haggis, oats, peanut butter and spices. Perfect for picnics, lunch boxes and buffets.
Ingredients:
- 4 hard boiled eggs, quickly cooled in cold water, shells removed
- 150g/ 3/4 cup veggie haggis
- 25g/ 1/4 cup porridge oats, plus more for coating
- 3 tsp flax seeds (optional)
- 3 tbsp crunchy peanut butter (or smooth)
- 3 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried coriander
- a good grinding of black pepper
- 1 egg, whisked
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 220c/200c fan/425f/gas mark 7.
- In a large bowl mix together the veggie haggis, peanut butter and spices, then season with black pepper.
- Pour the whisked egg into the haggis mixture and bring together into a sausage-style mixture.
- Take each hard-boiled egg and wrap it firmly in the sausage mix, then roll it in oats. Do this with all the eggs.
- Place on a baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes until crisp.
- Enjoy!
Notes:
Cooked Scotch eggs will can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Uncooked Scotch eggs can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Scotch eggs can be frozen before they are baked or deep fried.
They can be frozen for 3-4 months.
To reheat them from frozen, defrost them in the fridge overnight, then bake or deep fry them until cooked through and crisp.
Uncooked Scotch eggs can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Scotch eggs can be frozen before they are baked or deep fried.
They can be frozen for 3-4 months.
To reheat them from frozen, defrost them in the fridge overnight, then bake or deep fry them until cooked through and crisp.
Calories
319.79
319.79
Fat (grams)
20.99
20.99
Sat. Fat (grams)
6.68
6.68
Carbs (grams)
18.40
18.40
Fiber (grams)
3.69
3.69
Net carbs
14.70
14.70
Sugar (grams)
2.72
2.72
Protein (grams)
18.06
18.06
Sodium (milligrams)
213.38
213.38
Cholesterol (grams)
288.06
288.06
The eggs look fab. I wanted to try veggie haggis, but it's not so easy to find it here, in Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteHave a look in the meat aisle, or try online Anca. It's really rather versatile.
DeleteThis looks good! Nice alternative to the quorn picnic eggs!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried those Alexandra. It's so easy to make your own and you can make them as spicy as you like.
DeleteFab idea! Now all we need is some sunshine to have a picnic!
ReplyDeleteYes that would be good.
DeleteI reckon my kiddoes love going to the movies purely for the popcorn. :). Lovely looking picnic eggs.
ReplyDeleteHaha, you could be right Bintu. Kids are so funny and thank you re the eggs.
DeleteThey look great - all we need is the weather!
ReplyDeleteMy picnic muffins had to be eaten indoors the other day too :-(
Ah well indoor picnics can be great fun :)
DeleteWow these are a brilliant idea! I came across your blog whilst searching on google as I have recently gone veggie and these would be perfect. My nearly 3 year old is obsessed with picnics at the moment, so it's given me some inspiration xxx
ReplyDeleteYay and nice to meet you Christina. Little ones definitely love picnics.
DeleteEven though I don't eat eggs, I am still intrigued by the vegan haggis layer of these (I'm sure there's something vegan that could go in the middle instead too!) I've only eaten veggie haggis a couple of times but it's been so tasty. Good tip on where to look - and I'll be looking!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking these would be good with Violife Vegan Mozzarella inside them Natalie :)
DeleteMy husband loves veggie Scotch eggs and can't understand why I don't make them often. This is nice. Thank you for adding my Haggis Burger recipe too, its appreciated.
ReplyDeleteOh yes he'd love these Shaheen. No problem re the recipe. I always know you have veggie haggis inspiration on your blog.
DeleteAh Cooper cracks me up - pun not intended. What a joy he is. Love the sound of these eggs, just perfect for a picnic. I've never made veggie scotch eggs and feel it's about time I gave them a try.
ReplyDeleteOh yes definitely time you tried Choclette, I think you'd enjoy them :)
Delete