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Illustration of Cullen Skink
Scottish · Starter

Cullen Skink

Scotland’s creamy smoked haddock and potato soup.

Time
45 min
Serves
4
Skill
Easy
Heat
None
Diet
Pescatarian

Pairing at a glance

SpiritTalisker 10 Year OldRegional SpiritThe Glenlivet 18 Year OldComplement WineChablis Premier CruContrast

The pairing logic

Smoke and cream suit a peppery, maritime malt or a rounded white wine.

  • smoky
  • creamy
  • comforting
  • savoury
What to pour

DRINK WITH THIS

Wine

Great matchContrast Chablis Premier Cru Dry white · Chablis · 12.5% Crisp acidity cuts the cream. See the wine → Great matchComplement Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet Dry white · Côte de Beaune · 13.0% Rounder white Burgundy matches the richness. See the wine →

Spirits

Perfect matchRegional Talisker 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky · 45.8% Peppery island whisky with a Scottish classic. See the spirit → Great matchComplement The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky · 43.0% Soft fruit and honey with creamy soup. See the spirit →

Rules used: Complement — Similar flavours that echo and support each other. Contrast — Opposites that balance: sweet against spicy, acid against rich. Cut — Tannin or acidity that slices through fat and richness. Echo — One shared flavour or ingredient links the plate and the glass. Cleanse — Bubbles, acidity or cold that refresh the palate between bites. Regional — What grows together goes together: same place, same table. Learn more →

The recipe

HOW TO MAKE IT

Ingredients · serves 4

Method · prep 15 min · cook 30 min

  1. 1

    Poach haddock in the milk and water for 8 minutes, lift out, flake and keep the liquor.

  2. 2

    Soften onion in butter, add potatoes and the liquor and simmer until soft.

  3. 3

    Mash part of the potato to thicken, add flaked fish and heat gently.

  4. 4

    Season with pepper and finish with chives and cream.

Cook’s tip

Taste before salting: the smoked fish is already salty.

MORE FOR THE TABLE

Pescatarian Scottish · Starter Smoked Salmon Blinis 25 min Pescatarian Mexican · Starter Shrimp Ceviche 30 min · ●●● Non-veg Indian · Starter Chicken Tikka 45 min · ●●●

Please enjoy responsibly. Pairings are suggestions based on classic flavour principles, not rules. Check ingredients for allergies and cook meat and poultry thoroughly.