It is made on site in Aberdeenshire and contains only natural ingredients including carbonated Scottish water, Scottish neep infusion, quinine and … It grows a lot larger than turnips but looks and tastes very similar. Why do the Scottish celebrate Burns Night? Neeps are the yellowy-orange mush found next to the tatties. This is shameful on two counts; one, I edit our food site, two, I'm Scottish. Most answers were given with a kind of scrunched up face and questioning, apologetic tone. If you found this article helpful, please tell your friends: Yes, you CAN have a vegetarian Burns Night supper. Nil by Mouth this week launches ‘Neeps and Tatties’, a Scots book for use in primary schools across Scotland in the lead up to Burns Night on the 25th January. Using neeps from her neighbour’s Aberdeenshire farm, Claire Rennie, founder of small-batch Scottish tonic water Walter Gregor’s, has created a neep tonic water in time for toasting Robert Burns on 25 January. It's very tasty and popular so I would say give it a try. Weirdly, he kept calling turnips "greentops" which seems a sensible enough a way to distinguish them until you discover there's a variety of swede called 'Willemsburger' - a canny wee bugger with a green top. Modified June 27, 2020. If you add butter and chives to the mix, you get clapshot (a dish that originated from Orkney). . All rights reserved. The Scottish Neep Tonic is a limited edition and is available on the Walter Gregor’s website for delivery in the month of January only. It’s Burns Night soon, the time when haggis, neeps and tatties grace the tables of many here in Scotland but also around the world. It's quite a bit larger than the white variety, and its skin is thicker. Put simply, neep is short for turnip. The neeps are the yellowy-orange vegetable found next to the tatties. I have seen reference to "neeps and tatties" both on the forums and on restaurant menus. When tender, drain and mash, just like you’d mash potatoes, I mean, chap tatties. Neeps and tatties … It gets more complicated. When it comes to cooking, both items can be treated in much the same way. Mashed Potatoes. The skin is then opened with a cross cut and each guest scoops out what they want with a spoon. In Scotland, neeps and tatties go together like peas and carrots. I wouldn't freeze neeps once they are mashed and seasoned. Neeps and tatties, a traditional Scottish side dish of mashed potatoes and swede (rutabaga), goes well with haggis or a beef roast. It's still a root, but the outside is purplish-green, and the inside is usually pale yellow or orange. Neeps are best cooked, mashed, seasoned and served on the day you need them. And both can be boiled and mashed, preferably in the company of potatoes or other root vegetables. If in doubt, always consult a suitably-qualified professional. Haggis, neeps & tatties (haggis, turnip & mashed potatoes) is the traditional meal served at Burns Suppers and is also often on menus in Scotland's restaurants, pubs, cafes, etc. If you ask someone what they know of Scottish food, haggis will invariably come up. You can chill leftover neeps in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days and reheat in the microwave, but cooking it fresh is the best option. So, I know this is some sort of food, but what exactly are we talking about here? A neep by any other name. In memory of the Famous Poet Robert Burn's poetry. And wouldn't it be wonderful if it was this simple and we could just leave it at that? The most common time to serve Haggis Neeps and Tatties is not only on Burns Night Supper in Scotland but also all year round. A traditional Scottish vegetable This is a question perhaps asked by newbie guests at a Burns Supper. The main ingredients are swede, potatoes, butter, black pepper. Neeps At Halloween. Neeps are the yellowy-orange mush found next to the tatties. . Although I had haggis with turnips (or most likely, swede) every Thursday as a child in Dumbarton, I don't remember anyone referring to it as neeps any more than I remember being called a bairn. What are neeps?A traditional Scottish vegetableThis is a question perhaps asked by newbie guests at a Burns Supper. Rutabaga and potato mash - Scotland’s national dish, haggis, is a savory pudding made out of sheep’s offal, vegetables, and spices. But, no, we can't. "Turnips? Neeps and tatties © stockcreations/Shutterstock. Answer 31 of 37: I realize this may be a silly question, but . Neeps are the colourful element to your Haggis, neeps and tattie stack and the name short for turnip. https://www.must-see-scotland.com/what-are-neeps What are neeps is a question perhaps asked by newbie guests at a Burns Supper. Yes, yes, it would. Always keen to help, we've covered swedes and turnips in our new seasonal vegetable guide. Veg World is owned and operated by Mike Lewis Consultants Ltd. Home  Most people maintain they are far superior in taste to turnips, which are the smallish, usually white fleshed things (I say usually because there are scores of varieties. Pictured above is a Swede, a purple headed, white bottomed, root vegetable which turns a bright orange or yellow when diced, boiled and mashed. However, in Scotland, neeps are considered rutabaga. It's still a root, but the outside is purplish-green, and the inside is usually pale yellow or orange. 'Neeps' are better known as swedes, the traditional Scottish accompaniment to haggis It is a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. IF YOU ORDER ""NEEPS AND TATTIES"" IN SCOTLAND, WHAT ARE YOU GETTING?. This distinctive root vegetable crops up in several Scottish recipes, and is also eaten as an accompaniment to other dishes. Just to clarify, ‘neeps’ are turnips and ‘tatties’ are potatoes. Neeps are a member of the mustard family in the Genus Brassica. Neeps. Or is that swedes? Jun 28, 2018 - What are neeps is a question perhaps asked by newbie guests at a Burns Supper. I guess the word probably persists in rural areas (or, as my dad puts it, "in Aberdeen") and among the older generation, but in urban areas, no. It's quite a bit larger than the white variety, and its skin is thicker. © Copyright Veg World and contributors. Created June 26, 2020 by: atasneem. . ", most people ventured, a few threw in "swedes", and "parsnips" raised their pointy heads on more than one occasion. So, I know this is some sort of food, but what exactly are we talking about here? One of Scotland’s leading equality charities has joined forces with the Scots Language Centre to help young people build bridges higher than walls. Answer 21 of 37: I realize this may be a silly question, but . And they're also what we call swedes. |  Advertise  Before you start writing your shopping list, a neep/turnip in Scotland in England is referred to as Swede and in America as a Rutabaga. To clear it up now (some hope), neeps is a dish of diced or mashed swede - I suspect references to "bashed neeps" come from an English notion - which are referred to in Scotland - … I think. Further "intelligence" gathered from Scottish colleagues revealed that what the English call turnips, in Scotland are called "new turnips". In Scotland, on the other hand, a turnip or neep is a somewhat different vegetable. . Usually they’re 'chappit', meaning mashed. Then there's the tumshie (a swede, apparently and certainly "nae the same as a kohlrabi" - not that anyone was claiming it was, as far as I can see), and the American rutabaga (corruption of the Swedish for red bag - meaning that it's a swede), and, yes, it's not over yet, you've got your Swedish turnip, which are basically turnips that have been cultivated in Sweden. Answer 1 of 37: I realize this may be a silly question, but . But in traditional Scottish dishes such as clapshot, skirlie-mirlie and bashed neeps, it's the yellow variety that's the authentic ingredient. In Scotland, neeps … Just to clarify, ‘neeps’ are turnips and ‘tatties’ are potatoes. If you want to freeze them, I … Impress your guests by serving up a delicious haggis, neeps and tatties stack this Burns Night. If you order neeps and tatties in Scotland, what are you getting? When is Haggis Neeps and Tatties served in Scotland? Burns night is a festival celebrated on the 25th January every year. The haggis makes or breaks this recipe, so make sure you buy a good quality haggis, be it traditional meat or a vegetarian type. Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Haggis is a tradtional Scottish dish containing sheep's offal (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours (although nowadays haggis tends to be simmered in a casing rather than the stomach). Naturally) beloved of French chefs and northern Italians, and which taste rubbish. Other people counter that it is in fact "swedes", the incomers (a much later cross between kale and a pure turnip), that Scottish people call "new turnips", which corrupts to "neeps", maintaining that, either way, neeps are swedes. Haggis is probably the definitive food of Scotland and unsurprisingly crucial to a haggis, neeps and tatties stack! I have seen reference to "neeps and tatties" both on the forums and on restaurant menus. Neeps, also called swedes or rutabegas, are a wonderfully buttery tuber with an interesting orange color. In England, neeps are considered turnips. Neeps are the yellowy-orange mush found next to the tatties. The dish consists of mashed rutabaga or turnips (“neeps”) and potatoes (“tatties”). There's no question that haggis is a cornerstone of Scottish culture, right up there with kilts and whisky.The national dish of Scotland, haggis is actually classified as a type of pudding, but in the British sense of the word, rather than the American.. A British pudding, of course, can be either sweet or savory and cooked by being steamed or boiled inside of something. Push the boat out with a homemade whisky sauce. So, I know this is some sort of food, but what exactly are we talking about here? That's presumably because it originated in Sweden, where it's called Neeps are also called turnip in Scotland and Swede in England. Clear? A serving of haggis, neeps, and tatties Haggis (Scottish Gaelic: taigeis) is a savoury pudding containing sheep's pluck (heart, liver, and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and cooked while traditionally encased in the animal's stomach though now often in … In England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand, it's called a swede. In fact, some Scots use the terms neep and turnip interchangeably for both vegetables. Below we'll explain and show the difference between turnips, swedes and neeps as well as what tatties are. To clear it up now (some hope), neeps is a dish of diced or mashed swede - I suspect references to "bashed neeps" come from an English notion - which are referred to in Scotland - and many parts of the north - as turnips. What we can safely say, *if* we disregard the views of the renegade reporter above is that the large purpleish skinned things with yellowy/orange flesh (on the right in the picture above) are swedes. In England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand, it's called a swede. Neeps or (mashed swede) goes hand in hand with tatties (potatoes) and haggis. The main ingredients are swede, potatoes, butter, black pepper. The haggis is served whole and hot, on a bed of the hot mashed tatties and neeps. A phone call to her father brought forth a surprising discovery - he shunned the name swede entirely, claiming that both the large reddish things and the small whitish things are turnips. It goes well with haggis and beef roast. To further dilute my chances of correctly identifying neeps, I've now lived in the south longer than I lived in Scotland, and as it turns out, southerners and northerners, along with Scottish and Irish folk - sadistically switch the names for turnip and swede just to mess with our minds. It's Burns Night tonight, and high time to answer a vexed question. Although typically served with haggis, neeps and tatties are featured in many Scottish dishes. Turnip (left) and neepsPhoto of neeps by Magnus Manske. Neeps are the yellowy-orange mush found next to the tatties. Talking about how the new flavour came about, Claire said: “I love haggis but couldn’t find a suggested drink to pair with it that wasn’t whisky. Neeps and tatties, a traditional Scottish side dish of mashed potatoes and swede (rutabaga), goes well with haggis or a beef roast. An experimental wander around the office questioning English colleagues about what constituted neeps threw them into a veritable vegetable panic. A turnip (above left) and a swede (above right). I have seen reference to "neeps and tatties" both on the forums and on restaurant menus. . But did you know what we are calling a neep is actually swede … Lords. must-see-scotland.com Champit neeps (mashed turnip) is traditionally served alongside mashed potato and haggis on Burns Night to celebrate the birthday of poet Rabbie Burns. But wait! In Scotland, haggis is traditionally eaten on Burns Night or St Andrews Day, with a wee dram of neat Scotch whisky. Some areas of south-east Scotland, such as Berwickshire and Roxburghshire, still use the term baigie, possibly a derivative of the Swedish dialectal word rotabagge. (The neeps, I mean, not the guests). Here at Scottish Recipes we are often asked what are neeps, haggis and tatties. © Copyright Veg World and contributors, 2003-15. .. |  Privacy policy  Related: 1 of 1. Rugged Scotland is known for its foreboding and eerie brown moors, stark mountains with a handsome stag perched proudly atop, roaring fires, grey stone buildings, misty harbors, and whisky.What deserves more attention is the region’s food. Neeps and Tatties is a simple comfort Scottish side dish made of rutabagas and potatoes, boiled and mashed together. The outside is generally white, but it often has purple patches at the top (as in the picture). The haggis is served whole and hot, on a bed of the hot mashed tatties and neeps. Tatties are simply potatoes! Neeps are also called turnip in Scotland and Swede in England. Traditionally haggis is served without any sauce or gravy. They both make a useful addition to soups and stews. How to prepare Haggis? I have seen reference to "neeps and tatties" both on the forums and on restaurant menus. |  Contact us In Scotland, on the other hand, a turnip or neep is a somewhat different vegetable. Neeps are the yellowy-orange mush found next to the tatties. In Scotland it is known as turnip, tumshie (also used as a pejorative term for foolish or stupid people) or neep (from Old English næp, Latin napus). Neeps are known by different names, hopefully the list below will clear any confusion. Sophisticates amongst you should add a dash of nutmeg. That in turn gave rise to its American name: rutabaga. If you add butter and chives to the mix, you get clapshot (a dish that originated from Orkney). Usually they’re 'chappit', meaning mashed. So today I am sharing with you my recipe for my Burns Night Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Pie – a hearty family dish perfect for the … Anyone disagree? United States– RUTABAGA I was asked recently if neeps were turnips, and mumbled something about swedes and turnips, and a mixture of the two, before admitting that, actually, I didn't know for sure. What's a turnip, what's a swede, and what exactly is the 'neeps' eaten with haggis? Although, I really don't know because my head hurts. In Scotland, separately boiled and mashed, rutabagas and potatoes are served as "neeps and tatties" ("tatties" being the Scots word for potatoes), in a traditional Burns supper, together with the main course of haggis (the Scottish national dish).Neeps mashed with carrots or potatoes is called clapshot.In Orkney neeps mashed with potatoes (tatties) is called clapshot. . Answer 21 of 37: I realize this may be a silly question, but . Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Pie | Burns Night (Scotland) It´s the 25 th of January, which means it is Burns Night in Scotland! |  Full disclosure  Burns Night is considered to be Scotland’s “other national day”, alongside St Andrew’s Day in November. Before we lived in Scotland we both assumed the use and popularity of haggis must be overrated. But what exactly is it? Away I scuttled, with a view to settling in my mind exactly what neeps are.Like so many things, the idea that the Scottish stomp about shouting for neeps isn't one that matches reality. All rights reserved. I've also heard swede / rutabaga referred to as yellow turnip and Swedish turnip, whereas the other kind is sometimes called white turnip. On special occasions like Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) and Burns Night (January 25), haggis is traditionally accompanied by a tasty and filling side known as neeps and tatties. . I haven't raised this with my dad for fear of a family fall out. In most of the English-speaking world, a turnip is a small root vegetable with a white flesh. You can chill leftover neeps in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days and reheat in the microwave, but cooking it fresh is the best option. Discover the recipe for an ever-lasting traditional Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. Finally, for those of you still with me, a quick note about neeps at Halloween. . Also, I hate turnips. What are neeps is a question perhaps asked by newbie guests at a Burns Supper. Neeps and Tatties is a simple comfort Scottish side dish made of rutabagas and potatoes, boiled and mashed together. Scotland – NEEP. If you're interested in the botanical names, they are Brassica rapa for the white version and Brassica napobrassica for the yellow variety - which, by the way, is officially classified as a cross between a turnip and a cabbage. You can't venture far in Scotland without coming across neeps. A hell of a lot more complicated. In Scotland, haggis is traditionally eaten on Burns Night or St Andrews Day, with a wee dram of neat Scotch whisky.