So here it is, a new year and January arrived before we knew it! While the holidays were fun, I was definitely ready for them to be over, even though my over indulgences of December would mean strict austerity measures would need to be implemented if I wanted to still be able to wiggle into any of my clothing. So that’s not fun. But there is something that cheers me up every year without fault. At this time of year my thoughts always turn to Scotland. That’s right- January 25th, which is coming soon, is the birthday of Robert Burns. Robert Burns was born in 1759 and is regarded as the National Poet of Scotland. On January 25th folks throughout the world, though especially in Scotland, will be remembering him with a Burns Night Supper. Ha! A perfect chance to put the cruel austerity measures aside for one night. And this year I’ve got a great Burns Night recipe for you. Not only is it perfect comfort food, but it is also fun to say. Without any further delay, may I present to you: Rumblethumps!This traditional Scottish side dish consists of dreamy, creamy mashed potatoes shot through with cabbage, fried onions and crispy bacon and all topped with gooey sharp cheddar cheese! Bestill my heart! This is perfect for any Burns Night Supper!!!
I’ve posted quite a few tasty Burns Night dishes in the past. Last year, I actually pulled the trigger and ordered a Haggis which I used to craft this delicious savory dish: Balmoral Chicken with Creamy Whisky Gravy served with Clapshot.
The previous year, I told you about this amazing Ecclefechan Butter Tart. This rich, scrumptious delight is chock full of nuts and warm cinnamon spiced fruit all wrapped up in a buttery whisky caramel.
Then there was this gorgeous Cock-a-leekie Pie:
And remember my Steak Auld Reekie served over Crispy Tatties & Neeps:
Or how about these Scottish Pies with Mushy Peas? This post is really fun because it is one of my travel postings telling you all about a fun trip that we took to Glasgow a few years ago.
And if you are intrigued by Scottish travel – just take a look at these Scottish Oat Cakes which are featured in my post about our journey to Lerwick in the Shetland Islands for their annual Up Helly Aa celebration, which is a Viking Fire Festival. How exciting it that?!!
But back to more Burns Night recipes, how about some infamous Scotch Eggs:
Perhaps you would like your Scotch eggs deviled?
Or maybe nestled within a meat pie?
If pie is not your thing (and I have no idea what you’re like if it isn’t…), how about this Cock-a-leekie Soup:
which I served with delicious, crusty Struan. Struan, also known as Celtic Harvest Bread, is thought to have taken its name from a town in Western Scotland called Struanmoor, on the Isle of Skye. It was originally enjoyed once a year as a harvest bread, using whatever grains were available from the previous day’s harvest. This is my absolute favourite bread, so it is almost always available in my house. It toasts up particularly brilliantly.
And for dessert maybe you’d enjoy this Dundee Cake with Hot Whiskey Marmalade
I think you get the picture. My blog is chock full of inspirational tasty Scottish dishes! A Burns Night cornucopia if you will. But let me get back to our dish at hand, the one, the only – Rumblethumps!
It is thought that this dish, which hales from the Scottish Border regions, takes it’s delightful name from the sound that the potatoes and cabbage make when they are vigorously stirred together with a wooden spoon. It is very similar to the Irish dish Colcannon, which I shared with you previously.
Rumbledethumps is very easy to make and comes together very quickly. You can use left over mashed potatoes for this or make a batch fresh. You can also assemble the dish well in advance and then stick it in the fridge. Let it come to room temperature on the day you wish to serve and then top with cheese and pop it in the oven until it is bubbling piping hot! I served it along with some Wild Boar & Venison Sausage but it would compliment nearly any main you want to serve at a Burns Night Supper.
So on January 25th I hope you will make some of these fine Scottish dishes that I shared with you today and join me in raising a wee dram and toast to Robert Burns, Scotlands favorite son.
Rumbledethumps
recipe from: Scottish Scran
Ingredients:
- 1kg of potatoes (2lbs) – russets or yukon gold
- 250 grams savoy cabbage, shredded or chopped
- 75 grams of butter
- 2 small onions, diced
- 6 slices bacon, fried and then crumbled
- 100 grams of mature cheddar cheese, grated
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (180 degrees C)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Peel the potatoes and cut into equal sized pieces.
Place potatoes in the salted water and cook until they are fork tender, approximately 15 – 20 minutes.
In the meantime, melt 25 grams of butter in a deep pan and fry onions until softened and slightly golden. Remove from pan and set aside.
Melt 50 grams of butter and add the chopped cabbage and cook until it is softened and wilted. Remove from pan and set aside.
Fry 6 slices of bacon until crispy. Set aside and crumble when cooled.
Once potatoes are ready, set a potato ricer over the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and press the potatoes through in batches. Add additional butter, a few splashes of milk or cream and then mix on medium speed until creamy, adding more butter and milk as well as salt and pepper to taste.
Once you are satisfied with your mashed potatoes, stir in the onions, cabbage and crumbled bacon and mix to combine.
Place to potato mixture into a 9×13″ oven proof baking dish.
Top with shredded cheddar cheese and bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown.
Enjoy!
Links to Useful Kitchen Tools & Ingredients for Rumblethumps:
*Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase*
Crafty Celts – Love the utensils in the pics above? You can get a set for yourself at Crafty Celts where you will find handcrafted historically inspired bronze and silver jewelry, as well as gorgeous silverware. You might recognize some of their jewelry as it was featured in the Vikings television show.
Posted by liadh1 
Lea & Jay 