Stovies

[fandjango]

My mum used to make tatties and mince and stovies amongst other stuff.

I didn’t get her recipe before she died but I have a real craving for some stovies.

We’ve just had a beef stew and it didn’t hit the spot at all!

I’m sure she used to make sausage stovies but could I make it with pork/beef mince?

Any recipes or tips would be appreciated. Longing for a taste of home!

I like sausage stovies best, but I also like beef stew ones.
I don't have a recipe, but just slow fry onions until soft and sweet, add waxy potatoes (Maris piper good), chicken stock, and water and bubble away until potatoes nearly cooked. Add water slowly (treat it like risotto as you don't want to end up with soup)! Skin sausages, break the meat into lumps and chuck them in. Mash a few of the potatoes against the side of the pan to thicken the whole thing. When everything is cooked, season and eat with oatcakes.

I'm from NE Scotland. Up here we typically use beef to make stovies. Further south seems to use Sausage or corned beef.

When I make stovies I usually use either left over roast beef, or diced beef.

To make it, I brown onions in a large pan with butter (but you can use beef dripping or lard) then add the beef on top to brown. On top of that then add chopped tatties (you'll need quite a lot, but don't mix together with the onions and beef, just leave them sitting on the top. Then add in beef stock, to just below the top layer of tatties, and leave to cook for around an hour. Once done, add in salt and pepper to taste then mix it all up so that the tatties start to break down. I sometimes add in a touch of gravy if it needs.

I haven't made it in ages, think that will be on the menu this week now 😅

If it’s proper NE Scotland Stovies you’re after then this is a classic recipe and method.

https://www.mostlyfood.co.uk/index.php/traditional-scottish-stovies/

definitely one that works best after a Sunday roast with the extra beef.

Alternatively, our local butcher also has a big online business and they sell Stovies (and all other butcher stuff so can do a freezer restock to make it sensible).

https://www.johndavidsons.com/product/roast-beef-stovies/

Absolute top winter comfort food. But seems to be unheard of south of the border.

This is my great granny's recipe and is the very best.

Cut sausages in half and fry for 5 mins in a deep pan (I use a wok pan for this). Chop various veg into bite size chunks (potatoes, carrots, could also add turnip or celery). Add a cup of stock and then cover the pan tightly with foil or a lid and leave it for 25 mins. The stock should have all be absorbed and the veg should have cooked through and caramelised against the bottom of the pan- this is the absolute best bit about stovies, the golden brown yumminess.

I don't have quantiles for anything on my great grannys recipe but if I've added too much stock I just let it cook uncovered for a bit at the end to try and reduce it.

Ahh thank you so much everyone.

My mums family were from 20 miles from Glasgow and I'm sure they used to do sausage stovies.

I'm quite keen to try all of these recipes.

I have a four year old who is sausage obsessed and I am also thinking of ways to up his vegetable intake but also to let him taste some foods his Granny would have made for him.

I'm drooling! 🤤

Lovely thread. I hadn't heard of these so didn't realise it was a food when I clicked on it but I'm very tempted to try it.

Hope these recipes bring back nice memories of your Mum's stovies, OP.

Oh WOW!

The online shop is amazing!

Have you ever tried the Tattie Soup from here?

Every NYE me and my sister used to be grating carrot and turnip and chopping tatties for the NYE party tattie soup.

Dads family are English and they would all love the Tattie Soup, Vinegar Peas and all the Hogmanny food my Mum would make ❤️

It really has! So grateful for the recipes and tips.

There is nothing better than a good bowl of stovies on a winters day. You should definitely try it x

My mum was Scottish and I had stovie tatties for dinner many a time as a child..... happy days can anyone else remember bullenger??? Sorry if I have no misspelled it lol. My Scottish grandads recipe

I made stovies once following my mum's recipe, and I used lard! But it was rubbish in comparison. I can't even remember the recipe. I must ask her to make it next time we visit. We lived in the NE when I was a youngster so that's where she would have learned to make it (left over beef stew or roast beef was the go-to meat). Might give it a go again with one of these recipes.

This definitely sounds like how she would have made it. If I put pork/beef mince in instead don't think it would change it?

trying to think of some tweaks for the four year old! however it didnt do me any harm ❤️

@MightySnail i meant to say do you think it would change it x

Erm. Probably.

It’s the butcher in the town I live in, have had most things they sell over the last few years. Would happily get anything again.

The one caution on tattie soup is I’ve never had the same one any two places, so while it’s good it might not be as you remember. Tasty either way mind.

They also do smoked ham bone so you can make proper lentil soup.

You can only try! It might all be a bit samey though. It wouldn't have bigger lumps of meat like it does traditionally. If you try it, report back!

Proper stovies are made with brisket

@MightySnail i've made a tray of pork and beef mince with breadcrumbs/seasoning and i've cooked it and cut it up in to cubes.

I'm going to attempt to make some stovies with it. I know it won't be like the ones i'm used to but i think my boy will like them (she says hopefully!)

I just thought i'd try this and next time I am definitely going to go down the traditional route.

Thank you all for the tips!

I thought they could be made with numerous variations depending on location and family history?

My mum makes hers with sliced (or square or lorne) sausage. I've never asked her how exactly but I will. I quite fancy stories now.

Square sausage cut up small, potatoes, onion diced and grated carrot is my family recipe. A little water and simmer for twenty minutes. Stir occasionally and it's ready when the potatoes are soft but not mush. Stovies is different depending on where you are from. I've never heard of mince being used nor pork. Sounds interesting

Don't suppose you've got leftovers from your stew? That's what I use, although my mum used left over roast beef. NE family, so has to be beef and usually made from leftovers.

Reheat leftover stew, add sliced potatoes and beef stock. Bring to boil, simmer until tatties are ready. Serve with oatcakes and beetroot.

I was given a slow cooker recipe but never been brave enough to try it: 2 onions roughly chopped, 2 tins of stewed steak, lots of sliced tatties and gravy salt which gives it the brown colour. 5-6 hours on low.

Yup.

NE Scotland it’s definitely beef chunks, and usually brisket or another slow cook pot roast type cut.

I was chatting with my cousin and she managed to jot down her mums recipes before she died.

I've gone for it today!

Our family did use mince to make theirs and I've made it with mince and it just tasted like hame! no where near as good as my mums or aunties but so pleased i've tried it.

Plus my four year old demolished it too so win win.

Really appreciate all the family recipes as it wasn't something I managed to do before my mum died xx

Aw that's great OP! Glad they were tasty and got the nod of approval from the head of the family 😆

Thanks for the advice. I didn't break the mince up too much so it was chunkier and a more stovie like texture