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What did your ancestors eat. Haggis may be the first thing that springs to mind but Angus and Dundee cuisine has an enviable selection of natural produce and raw ingredients, from both land and sea, which lend themselves to a plethora of recipes and products known the world over - from Bridies and pies to preserves and smoked fish. So here's a taste of what our ancestors ate and what we in Angus and Dundee continue to eat today.
Scottish raspberries are regarded as the best in the world - and no where do they thrive better than in Angus's long cool summers. Click here for raspberry recipes
Oatmeal is used in tasty oat cakes, bread, broths, and of course porridge. Click here for oatmeal recipes
Barley is a key ingredient of Scotch Broth - the country's favourite soup. It is also malted to produce Scotch whisky.
Click here to find out how to make the perfect Scotch broth
Dundee Cake also famous is lighter than traditional fruit cake and has a characteristic topping of whole or split almonds.
Click here for Dundee Cake recipe
Haggis - perhaps Scotland's best known dish is made from 'sheep's pluck' (liver, heart and lungs plus oatmeal, suet, herbs, spices and seasoning) to producers' own secret recipes. If you don't have a butcher close by who can prepare one for you click
click here for Tayroots very own secret recipe.
Rock - Although not quite as famous as it's Edinburgh cousin, Kirriemuir's very own Starry Rock has been loved and continues to be loved by generations who live or visit the little red town. Established in 1833 by David Ferguson, the 'Star Rock Shop' situated in an old narrow street known as the 'Roods', still trades today and is where you'll find shelves laiden with sweet jars, chocolate boxes and of course Starry Rock.
Dundee Marmalade - The popularity of the celebrated Dundee marmalade was established by Janet Keiller, a Dundee grocer's wife. The story goes that she bought a load of Seville oranges cheaply from a storm-wrecked ship in Dundee harbour, around 1770 and made a batch of marmalade.
Whether that story bears scrutiny or not, it's true that the Keiller family built the first marmalade factory in 1797. Thereafter Dundee was referred to as the 'home of marmalade'. And, while there's still a strong association between the city and marmalade today, there's only one remaining large-scale producer of orange marmalade in the Dundee area -Mackays of Carnoustie. Click here for Dundee
Click here for Dundee Marmalade recipes
The Arbroath Smokie - The Declaration of Arbroath - may have given birth to the Scottish Nation - but ask people what they associate with Arbroath and the answer will most likely be the Arbroath Smokie.
An Arbroath smokie is a haddock that has been smoked over hardwood until it becomes a rich burnished gold colour and has developed a full, smoky flavour. Legend would have us believe that the smokie was created after some fishermen discovered a charred haddock in the embers of a burning cottage!
However it was created it has remained one of Angus's most famous foods ever since. Still made in the traditional way - with two haddocks tied together by their tail, hung over a stick and set over a barrel of smoking fire.
In 2004 the Smokie was granted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, by the European Commission. As with Champagne and Parma ham, the name 'Arbroath smokie' can only be used to describe haddock smoked in the traditional manner within an 8km radius of Arbroath.
Forfar Bridie - A Forfar bridie is a type of meat pastry or pie, similar to a Cornish pasty, but the pastry is not as hard and no potato is used. It is made of minced beed, sometimes with onions and placed on rolled-out pastry and folded into a semi-circular shape; the whole thing is baked in an oven.
The contents of the bridie are indicated by the number of holes in the top; one hole signifies that no onions are in the ingredients and two holes indicates onions have been used.
It is the subject of the Dundee Scots shibboleth - Twa plenn bridies an ingan ane an aa("Two plain bridies and an onion one and all", an aa being Dundonian for "as well").
Click here for a Forfar Bridie recipe - for the real thing visit Forfar bakers' Mclarens or Saddlers - but if you don't live close by this is the next best thing.
We have included above a few of our favourite Angus and Dundee recipes if you have a few of your own handed down to you from your Granny or even your Granny's Granny then we'd love to hear about them and try them out. Email us at Tayroots@angusahead.com