Cullen skink which has developed the secondary meaning of a soup, especially one made from these. The word "skink" is ultimately derived from the Middle Dutch "schenke" "shin, hough" (cognate with the English word "shank" and German "Schenkel", 'thigh', and "Schinken", 'ham'). It has no etymological connection with its homonym "skink", meaning a lizard belonging to the infraorder Scincomorpha. Cullen skink Cullen skink is a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. An authentic Cullen skink will use finnan haddie, but it may be prepared with any other undyed smoked haddock. This soup is a local speciality, from the
Crappit heid was made from the head of a large cod or similar sized fish, washed, descaled and then stuffed with a mixture of oats, suet, onion, white pepper and the liver of the fish in question. This was then sewn or skewered to close the aperture and boiled in seawater. The cooked dish would then be served with potatoes or other root vegetables in season. Later variations include exchanging the seawater for a court bouillon of fish stock and onion. The resulting poaching liquid is often eaten as a soup before having the fish head. Although once a very common dish,