I hope you enjoyed last week’s Neeps & Tatties Soup, the first course of our Burns Supper which we’ll celebrate on Robert Burns’ birthday, January 25th. This week, our second course is Warm Salad. This is a my updated version of a traditional Scottish winter dish of arugula (rocket), toasted black pudding, fresh apples, and pecans.
While you might want to skip the black pudding (a type of sausage made with pork, herbs and spices, and bound with oatmeal or ground barley), I would suggest you give it a try as it adds texture and color to this dish. This time of year you can order black pudding from Amazon as well as other specialty online food retailers. Or, if neither appeals to you, just add grilled chicken on top. I hope you enjoy it!
Warm Salad
This recipe calls for Haggis, another type food made from animal protein and oatlmeal, but it works just as well will Black Pudding. But, to be honest, I serve it without protein or with grilled chicken.
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 pound black pudding or haggis totally optional!
- 1 pound chicken tenders grilled (instead of black pudding or haggis)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups rocket leaves
- Seeds of one pomegranate pith removed
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced for garnish
- Caraway seeds optional for garnish
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Dressing
- 1 cup fresh mint finely chopped
- juice and pulp of one large orange
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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If serving haggis or black pudding, microwave it according to the directions. Then cover it and set it aside. Or, if using the chicken, grill or saute the chicken in a grilled on the stove or cook the tenders on the grill.
Dressing
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In a small bowl, stir together the mint, orange juice and pulp, garlic, and oil. Mitt well and season to taste (but the feta cheese and haggis/pudding are both salted) Set aside.
Salad
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In a saute pan, heat the oil over low heat. Form small balls of haggis/black pudding and fry them up quickly. You want a crunchy exterior and then drain them on a plate lined with paper towels. If you're using chicken or another kind of protein, you can still fry it. Although I usually serve grilled grilled chicken or chicken tenders cooked in an air fryer. All the protein is optional as well.
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Assemble the salad on the plates. Add the protein (chicken, haggis, black pudding, etc). Cover with pomegranate seeds and feta cheese. Drizzle the dressing on top and add salt and pepper, if needed. Layer a few apple slices on top and sprinkle with pecans and caraway seeds. Serve immediately.
