Scotch eggs in a basket.

What Exactly Is A Scotch Egg?

NEWS

By MATTHEW LEE

Whole and halved Scotch eggs on a plate with a dip.
The Scotch egg, a British snack dating back to at least the 18th century, consists of a boiled egg encased in sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried until golden brown.
A halved Scotch egg on a tray.
While numerous stories exist regarding the origins of Scotch eggs, a popular story attributes their creation to the iconic London department store Fortnum & Mason in 1738.
A plate of nargis kofta.
The store’s website claims the invention of the snack, but it also acknowledges a Mughlai dish called nargisi kofta, hinting at a potential inspiration for Scotch eggs’ creation.
Scotch egg with hollandaise sauce.
If this theory is to be believed, the idea for this beloved snack could have originated in India before making its way to Britain through the infamous East India Company.
A person covering an egg with meat.
However, competing theories also exist. One suggests that the practice of covering boiled eggs in meat may have developed in North Africa alongside similar dishes like shakshuka.
Salted anchovies in glass bowl.
Moreover, the dish’s name is thought to have originated from its cooking technique known as “scotching,” in which anchovies are added to meat to offset its fatty taste.
A person slicing a lime.
Alternatively, as per the Foods of England Project, news clippings from 1848 mention a practice where fresh eggs were lime-coated during transit between England and Scotland.
Three plates with halved Scotch eggs.
These lime-coated eggs were also known as Scotch eggs. While primarily used for preservation, the coating might have influenced the creation of the sausage meatball component.