Traditional Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe

Written by
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
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Elaine Lemm
Updated 06/12/19
Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe

The Spruce
  • Total: 30 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yield: Serves 4
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
377 Calories
18g Fat
23g Carbs
30g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: Serves 4
Amount per serving
Calories 377
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 11g 54%
Cholesterol 123mg 41%
Sodium 462mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 30g
Calcium 255mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Cullen Skink is a hearty soup that is traditionally made with smoked haddock, and for me a great way to use smoked fish. The name of this soup originates from Cullen, a small town in North East of Scotland and also the home of this soup, one of Scotland's most famous dishes.
In this version of the famous recipe, mashed potatoes are stirred into the soup creating thickness and flavor. In some recipes, however, instead of mash, scrubbed, new potatoes or potato chunks are added. The best potatoes for this would be waxier rather than the ones used for mash and Jersey Royals work very well.

This Cullen Skink recipe is also known as Smoked Haddock Chowder in other parts of Britain as the recipe really is very similar.​

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pints milk
  • Small handful flat leaf parsley (leaves and stalks separated)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 pound smoked haddock fillet (not dyed)
  • 2 ounces butter
  • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
  • 8 ounces mashed potato (leftover or cooked fresh)
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper (to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Pour the milk, parsley stalks, bay leaf, and haddock into a large, roomy saucepan.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  3. Finely chop the parsley leaves and keep to one side. 

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Bring the milk to a gentle boil and simmer for 3 minutes.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Remove the pan from the heat and leave for 5 minutes for the herbs to infuse their flavor into the milk.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  6. Remove the haddock from the milk with a slotted spoon and put to one side.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
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  7. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve and reserve the herb-infused milk.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  8. Heat the butter in another, smaller saucepan. Add the onions and cook gently until translucent - about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn them.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
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  9. Add the milk and the potato to the onions and stir until incorporated and a thick, creamy consistency.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  10. Flake the smoked haddock into meaty chunks, taking care to remove any bones you may find and add to the soup.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  11. Add the chopped parsley leaves to the soup and bring to a gentle simmer and cook for a further 4 to 5 minutes. Do not over stir. If over stirred then you will break up the fish too much.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  12. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed. Be careful with the salt, as the fish will impart quite a salty flavor all on its own.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  13. Garnish the soup with more chopped parsley or a little extra pepper as is your taste.

    Scottish Cullen Skink Recipe
     The Spruce

  14. Serve hot with crusty bread.

Serving Suggestions

  • Sometimes Cullen Skink is served with a softly poached hen's egg on top for an even more, filling soup.
  • Or, lightly poached quails eggs dropped into the soup before serving, add a touch of sophistication if you are serving the soup on a more formal occasion.
  • You can also add a cup of cooked or warmed, canned sweet corn before serving but this is not usual for a traditional for Cullen Skink, but occasionally it is fun to ring the changes.