Mince and Tatties

A true Scottish classic and the country's national dish, mince and tatties are regularly eaten throughout the year in Scotland. Although there are many variations, the dish is traditionally made with ground beef (mince) and potatoes (tatties).

Ground beef was usually made from low-quality cuts of beef, allowing the hard meat to soften through grinding, masking its inferior quality in the process. The beef is stewed with a variety of vegetables such as carrots and celery in a thick gravy, while the potatoes are usually mashed with the addition of cream and butter.

Even though it is an inexpensive comfort food, mince and tatties have beaten gourmet dishes such as sirloin steak, haggis, and smoked salmon in a poll of the country's favorite dishes.