Skirlie Scottish Oatmeal Stuffing Recipes

SKIRLIE (SCOTTISH OATMEAL STUFFING)

Steps:

• Melt the butter and gently fry the onion until soft.
• Stir in the oatmeal, season and cook gently for 10 minutes.

SKIRLIE MASH

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes until very tender, about 20 mins. Meanwhile, make the skirlie. Heat the butter in a frying pan, add the onion and cook for 10 mins until golden and soft. Add the oatmeal and stir until the butter is absorbed and the mix looks dry. Continue cooking until the skirlie is toasted, stirring (skirling round the pan) all the time for 5 mins, but do not let it catch and burn. Remove and keep warm.
• Drain the potatoes, return to the hot pan and mash really well. Beat in the cream, parsley and skirlie, then season to taste. Serve immediately before the skirlie softens.

SKIRLIE MASH - SCOTTISH MASHED POTATOES WITH ONIONS AND OATS

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes until very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the skirlie. Heat the butter in a frying pan, add the onion and cook for 10 mins until golden and soft. Add the oatmeal and stir until the butter is absorbed and the mix looks dry. Continue cooking until the skirlie is toasted, stirring (skirling round the pan) all the time for 5 mins, but do not let it catch and burn. Remove and keep warm.
• Drain the potatoes, return to the hot pan and mash really well. Beat in the cream, parsley and skirlie, then season to taste with salt and white pepper.
• Serve immediately before the skirlie softens, with haggis or any beef and game dishes.

SKIRLIE (SCOTTISH OATMEAL AND ONIONS)

Steps:

• Melt the fat or heat the oil in a large frying pan.
• Add the onion and cook until soft and golden.
• Add the oatmeal and mix in well.
• Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add the stock and allow it to be absorbed by the oatmeal.
• Season well and serve with light creamy mashed potatoes.
• (Skirlie may also be used as a stuffing for any kind of game bird or poultry. It is also a very good accompaniment to rich meaty and gamy stews).

OATMEAL POULTRY STUFFING

Steps:

• Dice onion to 1/4 inch pieces.
• Dice garlic to very small pieces.
• Dry mix oatmeal, salt, pepper, sage, onion, and garlic.
• Knead in the vegetable shortening, then knead in half of the butter. If consistency is not sticking together to form a clump when kneading, then continue to add butter in 1 tbs. increments. Increase amount of butter if necessary.
• Fluff mixture so it isn't hard-packed, and then stuff bird with mixture.
• On edit: I generally cook turkey slower and longer than most and add water to the pan for gravy use. I baste it several times throughout and shoot the water with a squeeze bulb type baster directly into the bird's cavity to keep the dressing moist.