Ah, the old Scotch egg, a traditional dish and modern favorite of the United Kingdom with a particularly fascinating history. Often found in pubs and bars, they make for delicious appetizers and comforting snacks.
But what exactly is it? A Scotch egg, according to Betty Crocker, is essentially a hard-boiled egg coated in pork sausage and a mixture of breadcrumbs and seasoning. It is usually coated in an egg and flour mixture to be deep fried or baked.
According to Britannica, Scotch eggs have their own flair depending on where they are in the world. They are served similarly to mozzarella sticks in the United States, often alongside ranch or marinara sauce (via Food52). Scotch eggs have been given a new flare by chef Matt Abergel of Yardbird in Hong Kong, who substitutes the sausage with chicken, soaks the eggs in tare sauce, and tops the finished eggs with shredded cabbage, Kewpie mayo, and lemon juice (via Yardbirds official website). Theyve even been served as breakfast food, topped with bacon and cheese, and potatoes mixed into the sausage breading.
By its name, you may assume that the Scotch egg first arose in Scotland, or was perhaps first served with a nice cold glass of Scotch, but its original whereabouts actually have varying stories.
Their name in those days was ‘Scotties,’ allegedly because they were made at an eatery by the name of William J Scott & Sons close to the seafront. Hence, over a period of time, the term Scotch eggs was adopted.
But what exactly is it? A Scotch egg, according to Betty Crocker, is essentially a hard-boiled egg coated in pork sausage and a mixture of breadcrumbs and seasoning. It is usually coated in an egg and flour mixture to be deep fried or baked.
According to Britannica, Scotch eggs have their own flair depending on where they are in the world. They are served similarly to mozzarella sticks in the United States, often alongside ranch or marinara sauce (via Food52). Scotch eggs have been given a new flare by chef Matt Abergel of Yardbird in Hong Kong, who substitutes the sausage with chicken, soaks the eggs in tare sauce, and tops the finished eggs with shredded cabbage, Kewpie mayo, and lemon juice (via Yardbirds official website). Theyve even been served as breakfast food, topped with bacon and cheese, and potatoes mixed into the sausage breading.
By its name, you may assume that the Scotch egg first arose in Scotland, or was perhaps first served with a nice cold glass of Scotch, but its original whereabouts actually have varying stories.
The first possible origin of the Scotch egg dates back to 1738 at a London department store known as Fortnum & Mason. According to Britannica, it was said to be created as a luxury delicacy for wealthy travelers. A conflicting theory suggests that the egg originated in a Yorkshire town called Whitby in the 19th century, per Culture Trip. First known as “Scotties,” they are said to be named after their inventors, William J Scott & Sons. Due to the towns proximity to the coast, this recipe initially called for a fish paste coating instead of sausage.
Ah, the old Scotch egg, a traditional dish and modern favorite of the United Kingdom with a particularly fascinating history. Often found in pubs and bars, they make for delicious appetizers and comforting snacks.
Originally they were not covered in sausage meat but in a rich, creamy fish paste before being sprinkled with breadcrumbs. Their name in those days was Scotties, allegedly because they were made at an eatery by the name of William J Scott & Sons close to the seafront. Hence, over a period of time, the term Scotch eggs was adopted. Due to a lack of meat during WWII, the Scotch Eggs quality deteriorated, and we began to lose faith in the product. Food manufacturing embraced technology more and more, and by the 1960s and 1970s, our breadcrumbed hero had lost his superpowers due to inferior, over-processed meat and the wrong kind of breadcrumbs used by competitors. As a result, many people thought it was a bit naff and out of style.
It is said to have been invented in 1738 by the London department store Fortnum & Mason of Piccadilly. They could, however, have been influenced by the Mughlai dish nargisi kofta (“Narcissus meatballs”). The first printed recipe can be found in Maria Rundells A New System of Domestic Cookery, published in 1809.
Despite these challenges its appeal comes down to the fact that it has remained an astonishingly simple dish to make and, even using the highest quality of ingredients, relatively economical too. The Scotch Egg has changed over the years and has become supremely adaptable. Over the years we have not been afraid to experiment with new kinds of flavours and ingredients, from black pudding to our new smoky BBQ, elevating it to finger food at cocktail parties or becoming the must-have on that all important summer time picnic.
The Scotch Egg requires no introduction; but the origins of this delicious snack are a source of much debate.
Why do they call it a Scotch egg?
FAQ
What is a fact about Scotch eggs?
Are Scotch eggs hard or soft boiled?
Are Scotch eggs eaten for breakfast?
Who eats Scotch eggs?
What are Scotch eggs?
Scotch eggs are a classic British delicacy that just have to be tried when in the UK. They’re made from hard boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat and a breadcrumb coating. Deep-fried or oven baked. In other words, a taste sensation. Ok, we would say that. But it’s true.
Does the way eggs are cooked make a difference for someone with an egg allergy?
Egg allergy most often appears in a child when an egg is first eaten. It often goes away by 7 years of age. Some people are allergic to eggs all of their lives. There are 2 types of protein in egg that a person can be allergic to: The most common allergic protein is destroyed when egg is cooked well. A person allergic to this protein can often eat food that has well-cooked egg in it. Cooking does not destroy the other allergic protein in egg. A person allergic to this protein needs to avoid eating eggs and products that have egg in them even if well cooked.
Why are Scotch eggs so popular?
The final version of the disputable history of the iconic snacks is probably the simplest. It could simply be that Scotch eggs were the northern version of Cornish pasties, a snack hastily put together for easily transportable lunches that caused less fuss than eating individual components while the working class went about their daily lives.
Who invented the Scotch Egg?
There’s a competing claim to the invention of the Scotch egg from a town called Whitby in Yorkshire. Supposedly, they were sold by a food purveyor called William J. Scott & Sons. If this explanation is true, that’s a mystery solved; the name “Scotch” simply comes from the fact the guy who originally sold them had the last name “Scott.”