Scottish Soups: Most Popular Soups from Scotland

Almost every country has soups in its cuisine. The ingredients of a country’s soups depend on the availability of ingredients in different parts of the world and the country’s culinary traditions. Scotland has many soups to try, and here we have outlined some of the most popular Scottish Soups for you to try.

The Three Most Popular Scottish Soups

1. Scotch Broth: The Most Famous of the Scottish Soups

Scotch Broth is probably the most famous soup from Scotland. The main ingredients of this soup are lamb, pearl barley, and an assortment of vegetables. Typical vegetables found in Scotch Broth include carrots, peas, onions, and leeks. It is also possible to make a vegetarian version of the soup or to replace the lamb with oxtail. Traditionally, the soup is served in the colder months as a warming and nutritious meal. Many people prefer to eat this soup the day after it is made when it is thicker, and the flavours are fully developed. Super Souper Ed has two easy Scotch broth recipes.

2. Cullen Skink: A Scottish Soup with Fish

Cullen Skink is a Scottish fish soup that is made with smoked fish that is cooked in milk with other ingredients, such as leeks, onions, and potatoes. This thick and creamy soup originates from Northeastern Scotland, where fish is widely available.

Try our Cullen Skink recipe here.

3. Cock-a-Leekie: The Scottish Version of Chicken Soup

Another popular Scottish soup is Cock-a-Leekie, which is a hearty soup that is almost like a stew. The main ingredients of this soup are chicken, leek, and prunes. Although the origins of the soup date back to the 16th century, it was not widely cooked in Scotland until the 18th century, when it was made with a rooster. The soup’s claim to fame is that it was one of the soup options at a luncheon on the RMS Titanic on 14 April 1912.

Try our Cock-a-Leekie recipe here.

Other Popular Scottish Soups

Tattie Drottle

Tattie Drottle is a simple potato soup, and the potatoes are usually cooked in milk with either onions or leek. Therefore, it is similar to a leek and potato soup. Like many other Scottish soups, each household has its own variation of this dish. Other ingredients that people may add for extra flavour and texture include vegetables, cream, or oatmeal. The soup is sometimes served as an accompaniment to fresh, smoked, or salted fish.

Hairst Bree

Hearst Bree is a hearty Scottish soup that is almost a stew, as it is a one-pot meal. Mutton or lamb is the main ingredient of this stew, says Taste Atlas. The chopped meat is combined with seasonal vegetables and herbs.  

Partan Bree

One of the tastiest Scottish soups for seafood enthusiasts to try is Partan Bree. It is the Scottish equivalent to a crab bisque, although it is not as smooth. This seafood soup originates from northeastern Scotland, where seafood and fish are a staple part of the diet. The name of the soup is Gaelic, and it translates as ‘crab brew.’

Scottish Lentil Soup

A cheap and easy Scottish soup to make is Scottish lentil soup. It is a tasty and creamy soup made with red lentils. Other ingredients used may include potatoes, carrots, and sometimes swede. It usually contains either ham or vegetable stock.

Sheep’s Heid Broth

Also known as powsowdie, Sheep’s Heid Broth is a soup made from a sheep’s head, says Scottish Scran. Although it is not as popular now, and very few restaurants serve this soup, it was once popular with poorer families. They made the most of any meat they could get their hand’s on.  

Making Scottish Soups

The ingredients used to make Scottish soups are widely available, with the possible exception of a sheep’s head, which you may need to order from your butcher in advance.

Many of the soups are easy to make using a soup maker, although you will probably prefer to use a pan for some of the chunk soups, such as Cullen Skink or Cock-a-Leekie soup. If you are catering for an event, you can also use a catering soup kettle to keep all these soups warm until you are ready to serve.