Sauté

Scottish Kedgeree

by:
November 24, 2021
4
4 Ratings
Scottish Kedgeree
Photo by Bobbi Lin
  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 25 minutes
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

Kedgeree is a dish of rice, smoked haddock, spice, and eggs, and it is one of those dishes whose etymology is surrounded by uncertainty, myth, and legend. Is it Scottish? Is it English? Indian, even? Did it come from British India, or does it predate even that period of history? One thing for sure is that it’s impossible to be certain. I have heard many differing accounts, the most popular being that it's a westernized variation of khitchiri, a dish of rice and lentils from the Indian subcontinent, which is widely regarded as a cure for all ills. There is a romanticized notion that “kedgeree” was brought back to Scotland by a regiment serving in the Raj. Regardless of its origin story, it's a delicious dish that you ought to give a try for yourself!

*Notes: You can use a medium-spiced curry powder, which is commonly used, but I prefer to make my own spice blend. For this, I mix coriander seeds, cumin seeds, ajwain, fenugreek seeds, black pepper, turmeric, and crushed chiles. I also use poached eggs rather than boiled, the runny yolk oozing onto the sweet, smoky fish and rice is simply joyful. If ajwain is unavailable you can substitute ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme. If smoked haddock is unavailable, you can use unsmoked haddock or other white fish such as cod. Add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the water as you poach the fish, and 1 teaspoon of sweet smoked paprika to the spice blend as you mix it. (The key here is to use something "smokey" to compensate for the unsmoked fish.) —Graeme Taylor

What You'll Need
Watch This Recipe
Scottish Kedgeree
Ingredients
  • Spice Blend
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon ajwain (carom seeds)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek (methi) seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • Kedgeree
  • 1 fillet smoked haddock (preferably peat-smoked)
  • 350 milliliters (about 1½ cups) cold water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 150 grams (⅔ cup) basmati rice
  • 2 large eggs
  • Kosher salt
Directions
  1. In a small dry skillet over high heat, toast the coriander, cumin, ajwain, peppercorns, and fenugreek for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. In a mortar and pestle, or spice grinder, grind the toasted spices along with the red pepper flakes to a powder. Add the turmeric and mix well to combine. You can store this blend in a glass jar for further use.
  2. In a medium saucepan with a lid over medium heat, poach the haddock, uncovered, in the cold water with the bay leaf for 4 to 6 minutes, until cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Reserve the cooking liquid in a bowl or jug. (Here's a tutorial on how to poach fish: https://food52.com/blog/9516-how-to-poach-fish)
  3. Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Cook the onion, stirring frequently, until softened. Add the rice and 2½ teaspoons of spice blend and stir once to combine. Add the reserved cooking liquid, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Check the rice, which should be perfect, and adjust the seasonings if required. While that cooks, poach the eggs in salted water to your preference. (A tutorial on how to poach eggs: https://food52.com/blog/17285-how-to-poach-eggs-with-less-stress-no-anxiety-dreams)
  4. Return the haddock to the pot and stir to heat through. Serve with the poached eggs on top.
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10 Reviews

judy
judy November 28, 2017
This is wonderful. I grew up eating a version my Mom made that was really terrible in comparison. She was not much of a cook and it was one of her best dishes: tuna, green peas, rice, hard boiled eggs and canned milk with curry in it. Baked for dinner. I could not find kippers--which I have not had since growing up. So I got a nice piece of cod and marinated it in liquid smoke for about 4 hours. Then proceeded with the recipe. Delicious. thank you so much. Have made it a couple of times. Will be in a regular rotation when cod is readily available. someone suggested TJs smoked trout. I recently had some and it is delicious. I'll have t give that a try as well..
 
Graeme T.
Graeme T. November 28, 2017
Hi Judy, thank you so much, feedback like this brings such a smile. I’m so glad it’s brought one of your childhood recipes back to life. Graeme
 
judy
judy November 25, 2018
On to make it again. Still no haddock to be found in my area, but will be a nice change from Turkey and leftovers this Thanksgiving.
 
Dee B.
Dee B. October 6, 2017
Grew up with Kedgeree as an every other Saturday lunch dish with hard boiled eggs in a curried tomato chutney sauce on others. My husband tried to smoke haddock for me, but it's not quite the same. We always poached our haddock in milk, seemed to plump the "meat". Miss real smoked haddock but still make this as a special dish on occasions.
 
NYNCtg
NYNCtg October 3, 2017
My husband is from Scotland and on our first trip to meet his family his mother made this for me. I hated it. It has scene grown on me. The smoked haddock is hard to find so like Sarah I sub in trader joe's smoked trout. My mother in law uses boiled eggs, sliced and folded in at the end, so that is what I do too. An unexpected bonus is both my kids love this dish. We have it monthly at our house.
 
Sarah
Sarah October 3, 2017
Love this! I was first introduced to kedgeree when living with an English roommate in Afghanistan in 2003. Spices, onions and rice, but little else, were readily available. Today, I use smoked trout from Trader Joes, stir in frozen peas when the rice is almost done and make it a one pot dish by creating a well in the rice to fry the eggs toward the end--this gives you the added benefit of crispy rice bits on the bottom.
 
marsiamarsia
marsiamarsia October 2, 2017
I'm very happy to find this recipe! First time I heard of Kedgeree and saw it prepared was on the PBS TV show "The Two Fat Ladies." If memory serves, these delightful women described it as a British version of an Indian dish, which the Brits "discovered" after colonizing India. They liked it for breakfast. It looked scrumptious to me too, and since the late 1990s, I've looked (off and on) to find an inspiring version. Now, thanks to Graeme Taylor and FOOD52, my quest is over!
 
Graeme T.
Graeme T. October 4, 2017
Hi marsiamarsia, very glad that you’re happy to find it, I hope you enjoy it as well.
 
Nancy
Nancy October 2, 2017
Right.....delicious ☺
And it may be heresy, but if I have trouble finding smoked haddock I will use another species...whitefish (delicate, so go easy on the spices) or salmon (for richness).
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames September 30, 2017
Oh, this looks divine! I make something similar using kipper snacks (smoked herring from a tin) when I want something quick and satisfying. I use leftover rice, or cooked rice - Trader Joe's brown rice medley, to be precise -- from the freezer. I don't usually put an egg on it, but like the idea - perfect for a heartier meal. ;o)