Scottish Take away classics -

You must be  inebriated, before you can try them

DEEP FRIED PIZZA

Scotland has a colder climate than the rest of the UK, especially in the North where I was born.  So historically we would eat a lot of carbs because they were also cheap.  Being able to walk into a supermarket and have an endless range of food, is a pretty new phenomenon.  

Which is why favourite traditional Scot's meals are

- mince and tatties

- stovies

- porridge

- Scotch broth soup.  (must be thick enough to stand a spoon in it)

- Oatcakes 

- tattie scones

For most of the population meat was a luxury and wasn't eaten often.  Stovies was created as a way of bulking out the left overs.

So it's not too hard to understand that when it comes to our modern day take away food it tends to be heavy on the carbs.

Deep fried Pizza - from serious eats.  Seems our Scottish classic is now being served in the US.

Traditionally in Scotland, the pizza is a mass produced tomato and cheese one.  It's then dipped into the same beer batter they use for the Fish.  Then deep fried till the batter turns golden.

It's then served with a portion of thick chips.  Which turns it into a deep fried pizza supper.  Any item served with chips, is called a supper in a Scottish Fish and Chip Shop.

The batter is lovely and crisp, while the inside contains the melty cheese.  In my youth I used to love these.  I must admit I could never eat a whole one.

Technically this could be called vegetarian and vegan, if you made it yourself.  Though fish and chips shops no longer use animal fats in their deep frier's, there is the problem of cross contamination.  

FRIED RICE, CHIPS AND CURRY SAUCE

Technically this is a British Dish, but it's really popular in Scotland.  Especially with Young Scots, after the pubs have all shut they all head to their nearest take away for food.  

The curry sauce is the mass market powder version that's made up with boiling water.  You can also have this delightful meal with cheddar cheese sprinkled on top.   Chips and cheese being another take away favourite.

DEEP FRIED PIE AND CHIPS

People born in the UK and Ireland have a eccentric nature. Like children were not afraid to ask What if?  So what would happen if you deep fried a pie, and served it with chips.  In Scotland we don't tend to dip them in batter before frying them, that would just be going too far. 

Esquire

DEEP FRIED BURGER

I've yet to find a food that someone hasn't tried to deep fry in batter and burgers are one of them.  We also batter and deep fry sausages,haggis,  white pudding and red pudding.  As well as smoked sausage, though this one doesn't get battered.  

I will admit this was one of my favourite teenage takeaway favourites.  Adding the cheese seems to be a new version.  You can serve this in a burger bun or with chips.  

You could make vegetarian and vegan versions

Canadian Budget binder

On the menu at one of my local take aways is a burger and chip butty.  I don't think it's in the same class as the one above.  The gentlemen on the above site has truly excelled and making the perfect version.  

Perfect meal for late night reveller, as they can eat it with their hands.  A regular burger supper would come in a box, which could be easily dropped.

Of course I've yet to find a recipe that combines the deep fried burger with chips to make a butty.  

Turkish Burger 

Another fusion recipe from one of my local Turkish takeaway bars.  This time the classic beefburger is paired with Donner meat and salad.  

If you have more refined tastes, you can also get a spring roll supper or fish cake supper from the same place.  

Needless to say the majority of people who ordered these items are usually drunk and stumbling home after the pubs have closed.  It's generally the time of night when Calories don't count.  There was probably more calories in the alcohol they consumed.

I've enjoyed this little trip down memory lane, exploring the new fusion cuisine of Scotland and the rest of the UK.  My favourite take away classic was the spicy haggis chip supper.  It had to be served with tomato ketchup, rather than the usually chip shop sauce.

(chip shop sauce - Brown sauce watered down with vinegar)

Now the only thing I can buy on a takeaway menu is the filled jacket potato, since I'm a lactose and gluten intolerant pescatarian.  I also can't eat any food that's been deep fried either. 

 Ohh and alcohol is one of my triggers

so I would never be drunk enough to buy them. 

xxxxx