A retired engineer from Glasgow has created a culinary sensation by blending Scottish and Brazilian cuisine, just in time for the World Cup clash between the two nations. Jimmy Main, 75, invented the 'haggisxinha', a fusion of haggis and the Brazilian snack coxinha, which has become a surprise hit across Scotland.
Coxinhas are teardrop-shaped dumplings typically filled with chicken, but Main replaced the chicken with haggis to create a unique flavour. The idea was inspired by his Brazilian wife, Luciana Main, who taught him the recipe. The couple met while Main was on holiday in Chile, and they married during the pandemic after she came to Scotland in 2020.
Main now runs the business from his converted garage, producing up to 10,000 haggisxinhas daily. The snacks are sold to restaurants and shops in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, and Stirling. A promotional video on social media garnered over 70,000 views on Instagram alone, leading to such high demand that Main plans to move to larger premises to expand production.
The business also serves a personal purpose: Main hopes the income will help secure a UK visa for his wife, who was previously refused due to his retirement status. 'If I have a good, healthy bank account and I can support my wife and my stepdaughter, hopefully they'll be in Scotland soon,' he said. Main supports both teams in the upcoming match, saying, 'May the best team win!'
