Clootie facts for kids
Clootie dumpling
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| Type | Pudding |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Scotland |
| Main ingredients | Flour, bread crumbs, dried fruit (currants, raisins, sultanas), suet, sugar, spices, milk |
A clootie (pronounced KLOO-tee) is a word from the Scots language. It means a piece of cloth, a rag, or an old item of clothing. This word is famous because it's part of the name for a delicious Scottish dessert: the clootie dumpling.
Contents
What is a Clootie Dumpling?
A clootie dumpling is a traditional Scottish pudding. It's a bit like a dense, sweet cake. People in Scotland have been making this tasty treat for a very long time. It's often served warm with custard or cream.
Ingredients for a Clootie Dumpling
This special pudding is made from simple ingredients. These include flour, breadcrumbs, and a mix of dried fruit. Common dried fruits are currants, raisins, and sultanas. It also has suet (a type of fat), sugar, and spices. Sometimes, a little milk or golden syrup is added to help bind everything together.
How Clootie Dumplings are Made
Making a clootie dumpling is a unique process. First, all the ingredients are mixed well to form a dough. Then, this dough is wrapped tightly in a special floured cloth. This cloth is the "clootie" part of the name!
The wrapped dumpling is then placed into a large pot of boiling water. It simmers for several hours until it's cooked through. After cooking, it's taken out of the cloth and often dried near a fire or in an oven. This helps to give it a nice, firm crust. Recipes can be a bit different depending on where you are in Scotland.
Other Uses of the Word 'Clootie'
The word 'clootie' isn't just for dumplings! It appears in other interesting ways in Scottish culture.
Clootie Wells
In some Celtic areas, you can find places called Clootie wells. These are special wells or springs. People visit them and leave strips of cloth or rags, which are their "clooties." This is usually done as part of an old healing ritual. People believe that leaving a piece of cloth can help them get better from an illness.
Scottish Sayings
There's an old Scottish saying that uses the word 'clootie': "Ne'er cast a cloot til mey's oot." This means "Never take off your clothes until May is out." It's a warning not to shed your warm clothes too early in the spring. It reminds you to wait until summer has truly arrived and the hawthorn trees are blooming.
A Nickname for a Political Party
Sometimes, the term "Clootie dumpling" has been used as a nickname. It was once used to refer to the logo of the Scottish National Party. This is a political party in Scotland.
See also
In Spanish: Clootie dumpling para niños
