Inverness teenager’s recipe combining Scotland’s national dish, haggis, and Greek cuisine to feature on menu at Inverness Castle Experience
Combining Scotland’s national dish with a taste of Greek cuisine may not be the most obvious or traditional way to serve haggis.
But it has proved to be a winning combination for an Inverness teenager whose inventive recipe, Haggis Fusion, is set to feature on the menu at a multi-million pound tourist attraction when it opens next year.
Charleston Academy pupil Ally Franklin - who celebrates his 14th birthday tomorrow - turned to a family recipe dubbed Greek Haggis when he entered a competition to create a dish for the restaurant at Inverness Castle Experience.
Today, Ally and a team of fellow pupils served up the winning culinary creation - whose ingredients include haggis, tzatziki, flatbread, vine-ripened tomatoes, lettuce, mint leaves and garlic - at the school’s newly-opened student-run café where it was given the thumbs up.
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Ally was among 60 entrants in Inverness Castle Experience’s recipe competition, Highland Hospitality - Tales from Around the Table, which invited students across the region to create a dish celebrating the spirit and stories of the Highlands.
He began his entry with tongue-in-cheek instructions: “To make the dish, you ideally need to go out into the local hills and hunt a fresh Haggis but if it’s not in season, it can be sourced from one of our legendary Highland haggis retailers.”
But he also maintained the dish would be a great way to introduce Haggis to the uninitiated with the new Inverness Castle Experience to start welcoming visitors from next year.
“I think it would be a perfect addition to the Inverness Castle Experience cafe as haggis is a traditional Highland dish but my recipe with its Mediterranean flavours and vegetarian options is a quirky and intriguing way to introduce Haggis to the uninitiated,” he explained in his entry.
“The freshness of the tzatziki perfectly balances the herby richness of Haggis, and with Haggis still being a reasonably-priced traditional fare, it remains an economical way of pleasing guests or customers alike.”
His entry impressed a panel of judges, all renowned food and drink enthusiasts, for its bold reimagining of Highland flavours and its homage to local culinary heritage.
Ally said he was surprised but thrilled to have won the competition.
“Mum has been making 'Greek Haggis' for years, combining traditional and vegetarian haggis with tzatziki and salads, letting everyone enjoy the fun of assembling what we now call Haggis Fusion,” he said.
“It’s a firm family favourite – quick, easy, and always a crowd-pleaser."
He described the team of fellow young chefs, who helped to recreate the dish including flatbreads, as “amazing”.
Ally also revealed cooking is not his only interest.
He won two silvers while competing for Inverness Swimming Club at the weekend and also plays with the Lovat shinty team.
Councillor Ian Brown, the leader of Inverness City and Area and co-chairman of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, enjoyed a taste of Haggis Fusion - but wryly observed it was a shame not to be sampling it in Greek weather as opposed to Highland weather!
“This event has highlighted our young people's fantastic talent and imagination,” he said.
“Ally’s dish shows how traditional Highland flavours can be enjoyed in new ways, and it’s wonderful to see him recognised.
“Well done to Ally and everyone who participated—you’ve all done the Highlands proud.”
Lizzie Rudge, faculty head of technologies at Charleston Academy, expressed her pride in Ally’s achievement.
“We are absolutely thrilled for Ally and immensely proud of him,” she said.
“We are even considering adding his winning dish to our café menu—it’s a fantastic way for our students and visitors to celebrate his success and enjoy his creation right here in the school.”
Charleston Academy’s new student-run café, Srúbag, meaning 'a cuppa' in Gaelic, opened earlier this month.
It is run and managed by students undergoing training in the hospitality industry, customer service and barista skills with support from Developing the Young Workforce through The Highland Coffee Academy.
They have partnered with Inverness Coffee Roasting Company which provides all the coffee beans and the students are currently working to develop their own Charleston Blend.
In the coming year, they plan to hold community events, and staff meetings and open the cafe to teachers and parents throughout the year. This space allows them to run vocational courses that prepare students for the world of work through learning in a real working environment.
The Inverness Castle Experience project will benefit from £30 million investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK Governments, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners.
The project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315 million investment from the UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
