Maragan nan Gàidheal

Bidh seòrsaichan sònraichte de bhiadh aig a' h-uile dualchas, agus chan eil gainnead sin aig na Gàidheil. Innsidh mi dhuibh beagan mu dheidhinn aon rud a bhios fhathast ri fhaotainn ( ann an dòigh ) aig na bùithean a' seo, ged nach eil e 'ga deanamh gu dualchasach aig móran na 's mo.

Bidh mi amach an dràsd' air "marag" no mar a chanas daoine gu tric 'sa Bheurla, "maragan", mar gum b' ann air aon dhiubh a bhiodh iad a' bruidhinn. Chan fhaca 's cha do dh' ith mi riamh marag dhubh ( ach seòrsa de rud anns na bùithean ) , air an deanamh le fuil, ach bha maragan geala again mar bhiadh ri mo chiad chuimhne, agus nì mi an diugh iad an dràsda 'a rithist air sgàth 's cho blasda 's a tha 'ad, agus gu bheil e a' còrdadh rium biadh mo shinnsre bhith agam 'ga dheanamh aig an taigh mar a bha 'is mi òg.

Airson marag a dheanamh, feumar caolan bà fhaighinn 's i air a glanadh gu ro mhath. Bhiodh an àl a dh' fhalbh 'gam faighinn 's gan glanadh aig na bailtean aca fhéin ach chan eil crodh agam agus ceannaichidh mi aig bùth ann am Badaig iad. Faodaidh duine caolan plastaig a cheannach ach chan eil iad ann an dòigh sam bith cho math ris na fìor chaolan.

Théid an caolan a lìonadh le mìn choirce, uinneannan agus geir, mu chòig chopanan an urra. Théid mu dhà chopan de fhlùr an cuir ann agus ge b' e dé a dh' iarras duine de shalann 'is phiobair, no spìosraichean eile. Cuiridh cuid de dhaoine copan de shalann ann an gach caolan. Cha chuir mise salann ann idir; me bhios e a dhìth orm, faodaidh mi a chuir orra a rithist.

'Nuair a bhios an caolan làn, feumar fhuaigheal aig a' cheann fhosgailte gus a h-uile sian a chumail astaigh, agus cuirear ri goil e fad mu dhà uair a thìde. Feumaidh nach bi an t-uisge ri goil gu cruaidh ach dìreach ceò ag éirigh dheth, gus nach bris an caolan 'sa phoit. Le snàthad fuaigheil, feumar a tholladh gu tric agus ann an iomadh àite. Mur an deanar sin, théid an caolan a spreadhadh! Chìthear an caolan a crùbadh rud beag agus roinn de gheir a' traoghadh amach ás fhad 's a bhios e ri goil.

Bidh fios aig duine gum bi i deiseil 'nuair a théid an t-snàthad troimhpe gun bhacadh aig na bhios taobh astaigh, agus feumar a thoirt far an teine agus amach ás an uisg' an uair sin. Ma dh' fhàgas anns an uisg' i, théid a sgàineadh agus dòrtaidh amach gach uile rud anns an uisge. Ged a ghabhas i ithe mar sin, 's e truidhláis a th' ann!

'S e cuspair math airson clas Gàidhlig aig Baile a th' anns na maragan - bidh spòrs gu leòir agaibh agus rudeigin ri ithe 'nuair a bhios sibh deiseil!

An déidh dha 'n mharag fionnarachadh, faodaidh duin' a cuir ann an déighean airson a gléidheadh. Mairidh i fad bliadhna no 'n còrr mar sin! Ma bhios tu airson a h-ithe, nì thu a cocaireachd ann an aghann-ghrìosaich i. Le béicean agus uighean, no le briosgaidean 'is dreagal, no dìreach leatha fhéin, 's e biadh math a th' innte, gu sònraichte do dhaoine a bhios ag obair gu cruaidh - cumaidh i an t-acras bhuat fad uairean a thìde!

An déidh dhuibh seo a leughadh, ma bios ùigh agaibh air "ceann gròpaidh" , éisdibh ri Mòr ni'n Mhurchaidh Dhòmhnaill aig Caintmomhàthar a' seo: http://www.cainntmomhathar.com/speaker.php?sp=21&l=e

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The Gaels' Maragan

Every culture has its’ own distinct kinds of food and the Gaels are not lacking in them. I'll tell you a bit about one thing that is still available (in a way) at the stores around here, although it isn't made traditionally by many people any more.

I'll be talking about "marag" or as people often say in English, "maragan", as if they were talking about one of them. I've never seen or eaten black marag (except a kind of them in the stores) made with blood, but we had white maragan from my earliest memories and I make them now and again because of how tasty they are, and because I enjoy having the food of my ancestors, homemade as it was when I was young.

To make marag, a cow's intestine, very well cleaned, must be procured. The previous generation would have gotten and cleaned them on their own farms, but I don't have cattle so I buy them at a store in Baddeck. You can get plastic casings but they aren't at all as good as the real ones.

The casing (intestine) will be filled with oatmeal, onions and suet, about five cups of each. About two cups of flour will be put in and whatever you want of salt and pepper or other spices. Some people put a cup of salt in each casing. I don't put any salt at all in; if I need it I can put it on them later.

When the casing is full, it must be sewed at the open end to keep everything inside, and put to boil for about two hours. The water must not be boiling hard but just steam rising from it, so the casing doesn't break in the pot. With a sewing needle it must be pierced often and in many places. Unless this is done, it will explode! The casing will be seen to shrink and some suet will drain from it as long as it's boiling.

You know it's ready when the needle can pass through it without obstruction from what's inside it, and it must be removed from the water then. If it's left in the water it will burst and everything inside will spill out into the water. It can still be eaten, but it's a mess!

Marag is a good subject for a "Total Immersion Plus" Gaelic class - lots of fun and you have something to eat when you're through!

After the marag cools you can put it in the freezer to keep it. It will last like that for a year or more! If you want to eat it, you cook it in a frying pan. With bacon and eggs, or with biscuits and molasses, or just by itself, it's good food, especially for people who are working hard. It'll keep you from feeling hungry for hours!

After reading this, if you're interested in "stuffed cod heads", listen to Sadie MacInnis at Cainntmomhàthar here: http://www.cainntmomhathar.com/speaker.php?sp=21&l=e