Cullen Skink is a traditional soup from Scotland,  Its consists of potatoes, onions, milk, and fish.  traditionally the fish is smoked haddock but cod is acceptable.

The soup originated form the town of Cullen in Morayshire, North-East coast of Scotland and is often served as a starter at many Scottish formal dinner parties.  Skink is a Scottish term for shin of beef, whereas the English word is shank.  Although beef is not the ingredient of this soup the term applies more like shank of fish.

The soup, as we shall see , is easy to make and is also very delicious.

Cooking time 25 minutes. Preparation 10 to 15 minutes. Serves two:

Main Ingredients:

• 2lb of smoked haddock or cod
• 1 medium onion: chopped
• 1 pint of fresh milk (semi-skimmed is fine)
• or ½ milk and ½ pint of cream
• 250 grams of hot mashed boiled potato
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• salt and black pepper
• 1 bay leaf and some chopped parsley
• water

Method:

Place the fish into a shallow pan, cover with enough water and bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove the fish from the pan and remove any skin and bones whilst breaking the fish up into small pieces.  Return it to the pan, add chopped onion, bay leaf and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper, simmer for 15 minutes.

Bring the milk or milk & cream to the boil in a separate pan, and when the fish is cooked, remove the bay leaf, strain it then add it to the milk along with the mashed potato and stir in careful not to mash up the fish pieces. and heat for a few minutes. Just before taking out of the pan add the butter and fold in.

Serve with chopped parsley on the top.

Cullen Skink is also available in cans and Baxters is the most recommended brand to buy

Here's what Baxters have to say about their soup, from extracts off their website @ www.baxters.com

" We've spent hours making sure this soup does justice to the treasured old village recipe it's based on. The finest smoked haddock, specially selected from expert local smokeries, potatoes, onions & fresh double cream combine to make a uniquely special handmade soup"

Ingredients of Baxters Cullen Skink Soup:

Water, Potatoes (18%), Smoked Haddock (17%), Onions (7%), Double Cream (5%), Skimmed Milk Powder, Modified Cornflour, Salt, Butterfat, Wheatflour, Stabiliser (Polyphosphates), Parsley, Black Pepper, Spice Extracts.

•No Artificial Colors
•No Artificial Flavours
•No Artificial Preservative

Contains Milk, Fish, Wheat and Gluten

I hope you enjoy your soup !