Food & Beverage

Great British Recipes. The Deep Fried Mars Bar.

In this week's edition of why the UK has the world's best food, we look at a modern classic, the deep-fried mars bar.

Great British Recipes. The Deep Fried Mars Bar.

WHAT IS IT?

Exactly what the name says, a Mars bar dipped in batter and deep fried in oil or beef fat.

Fish & chips with a battered mars bar paired with 15% wine
Fish & chips with a battered mars bar paired with 15% wine

HISTORY

The Haven Chip Bar (now the Carron) in Stonehaven claims to have invented the dish. However several other Scottish chippies have disputed this claiming it's been around much longer than the quoted 1992.

Alleged birth place but memories may vary.
Alleged birth place but memories may vary.

The Evening Express in Aberdeen wrote one of those slow news day stories and it was picked up by the larger Daily Record (a major Scottish newspaper) a few days later. Things snowballed as UK tabloids got hold of the story. The deep-fried Mars bar was now firmly established as an example of Scottish cuisine.

Disaster for the Scottish economy
Disaster for the Scottish economy

The dish played right into the hands of Scottish stereotypes long perpetuated by the English. While Americans had images of black folk munching watermelon and fried chicken, the UK had drunk Scots clutching battered Mars bars.

Typical anti Scottish racism from London
Typical anti Scottish racism from London
Obviously not scottish
Obviously not scottish

If you like sciencey stuff
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666316301593

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673604175892/fulltext

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND POPULARITY

Deep-fried battered food is popular throughout the UK, and the world so it's a little unfair that Scotland gets singled out.

Great British Recipes. The Deep Fried Mars Bar.
Typical chippy menu. Mmmm chips cheese and curry
Typical chippy menu. Mmmm chips cheese and curry

Attempt to secure EU-protected status for the delicacy failed after Mars refused to support it stating,
"Should an application be filed, unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to support it, as deep-frying one of our products would go against our commitment to promoting healthy, active lifestyles."

Frying a mars bar takes away its healthy properties
Frying a mars bar takes away its healthy properties

Not everyone in Scotland supports the dish. In 1995 Aberdeenshire Council ordered a sign should come down “for the good of the wider community” as part of plans to smarten up the town. The council were told to get stuffed.

Great British Recipes. The Deep Fried Mars Bar.
Great British Recipes. The Deep Fried Mars Bar.

Critics claim that 80% of deep-fried Mars bars are sold to tourists who just want to take a selfie and most Scottish people only batter normal stuff like pizza

A healthy deep fried pizza
A healthy deep fried pizza

Great British Recipes. The Deep Fried Mars Bar.

However, the original shop claims it sells 200 a week with other places also claiming large sales.

GOOD V BAD DISHES

Squiggles on a plate are posh
Squiggles on a plate are posh
is that a poached egg and brown sauce?
is that a poached egg and brown sauce?

Not every Scottish chip shop sells battered Mars bars with many claiming it ruins the oil. However many restaurant chefs throughout the UK have tried to refine the dish as a proper dessert. Like any battered dish you want light bubbly batter.

Didnt quite get this one right did we?
Didn't quite get this one right did we?

POPPY'S OPINION

The deep-fried Mars bar is quoted on many websites as a myth with writers quick to point out they've never met anyone who's had one. Even Scotland's main newspaper the daily record claims it's a myth because only 10% of Scottish people regularly eat them

Scottish blood is 80% Irn bru.
Scottish blood is 80% Irn bru.

It's easy to dismiss the whole thing as anti-Scottish racism pushed by London-based tabloids who generally like to paint the rest of the UK in a negative light. Similarly, there are many in Scotland that would like to shake off the association.

All Scottish food has to be served with Irn Bru
All Scottish food has to be served with Irn Bru

Poppy believes when it comes to defeating discrimination the best defence is "If you don't want to be treated like a dog, don't bark." Scotland has some great dishes like Haggis and Kedgeree so it's a shame battered mars bars are the first thing outsiders often think of.

Perhaps STD isnt the best choice of wording
Perhaps STD isn't the best choice of wording

But is the concept actually that bad? Perhaps served with chips and a carton of curry, yes, but they have spread worldwide with Australia now claiming them as their own. Had they first appeared in a Paris patisserie we might be viewing them differently

An Australian deep fried Mars bar shop
An Australian deep fried Mars bar shop
Great British Recipes. The Deep Fried Mars Bar.
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