What to eat on Burns Night

A Burns Night celebration is filled with food, friends and poetry. The main event consists of a comforting meal with classic Scottish recipes. A key part of the evening is the haggis course, which tends to be presented with music and a reading of Burns’ poem Address to a Haggis. "At the start of every supper the Haggis must be formally addressed after its piped into the room with bagpipes," says Scott.

After dinner, guests recite more poetry, make toasts, and tributes to Burns and end the night by singing Auld Lang Syne. You can celebrate Burns Night at home with plenty of traditional food like haggis, neeps and tatties. Don’t forget a few drams of whisky or a winter cocktail to accompany the toasts.

"It’s a great tradition, our tradition, uniquely Scot’s and one that we will remain very proud of for centuries to come," Scott adds.

Haggis

It wouldn’t be Burns Night without a Haggis. Our Scottish Haggis, sourced from trusted M&S Select Farms, has a crumbly texture and is seasoned with fragrant pepper, coriander, nutmeg and allspice. Skipping the meat? Tuck into this veggie-friendly Spiced Vegetable and Lentil Haggis instead, loaded with black beans, swede, carrots and mushrooms. Serve with a generous portion of neeps and tatties (aka mashed potatoes and swede) and whisky sauce on the side for a traditional supper. Snag all three in one dish with our Mini Meal Haggis, Neeps and Tatties for a simple but filling dinner. If you you’re left with some extras after your celebrations, try these leftover haggis potato cakes with poached eggs recipe. It uses prepared mashed potato as a shortcut to reduce prep time.

Raise a glass to Burns Night with a warming winter tipple. Traditionally, drams of Scottish whisky are served throughout the night, especially during toasts and speeches. This Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky makes for a luxurious drink as our Collection spirits are crafted with the highest quality from some of the world's best distilleries. This 12-year-old single malt is distilled at the Glengoyne distillery in Dumgoyne, Scotland, exclusively for M&S. Taste notes of sweet vanilla custard, punchy lime zest and honey-roasted nuts. Our smooth 8 Years Aged Blended Scotch Whisky is also distilled and bottled in Scotland. The rich, full flavour profile has notes of oak, smoke and caramel, with a rounded taste.