What Exactly Is A Scotch Egg?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.