A retired engineer from Glasgow has created a unique culinary fusion that is gaining popularity ahead of the World Cup clash between Scotland and Brazil. Jimmy Main, 75, combined haggis with coxinhas, a traditional Brazilian snack, to produce what he calls "haggisxinha."
The Birth of Haggisxinha
Coxinhas are teardrop-shaped dumplings typically made with dough and breadcrumbs, filled with chicken. Main replaced the chicken with haggis, creating a flavour-packed snack that celebrates both Scottish and Brazilian cultures. The idea was inspired by his Brazilian wife, Luciana Main, who taught him the original recipe.
Main converted half of his garage, dubbed the "man-cave," into a kitchen that meets all health and hygiene standards. He now supplies restaurants and shops across Scotland, producing up to 10,000 haggisxinhas per day.
From Hobby to Business
Main said: "It all comes down to my wife, who is Brazilian. She had been in Scotland for some time, and due to a visa requirement, she has to go back to Brazil and reapply from there. But during her time here, she would cook coxinhas, and I thought it would make a good business venture."
He started by supplying party hosts and quickly discovered a large Brazilian community in Scotland. The business grew, prompting him to invest in a machine to produce coxinhas. "Scottish people have started to like it and have ordered snacks back and forward. I’ve ended up selling to Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, and mainly here in Glasgow," he added.
Social Media Success
Main promoted his creations on social media, amassing over 70,000 views on Instagram. "I decided to do a small promotion video and put it on Facebook and Instagram, and it’s exploded – so much so that I can’t cope and I’m going to have to move into larger premises where I have the facility to freeze the food, bag the food, and then transport the food," he said.
With the World Cup approaching, interest has surged. "People are showing an interest because we’re going to be playing Brazil, and I’m really looking forward to that. I support both teams, so may the best team win! I hope that as people sit down to watch the Scotland v Brazil game they’ll get torn into the haggisxinha."
A Love Story
Main met his wife while on holiday in Chile. They kept in touch and started a relationship. She visited Scotland in 2020 with her children, and when lockdown began, she was unable to return to Brazil. They decided to get married and recently celebrated their five-year anniversary.
However, Luciana's visa application was rejected because Main is retired. He hopes the income from his business will help convince the government to allow her to stay. "She was refused a visa simply because I’m retired. I live on a pension, but my house is bought and paid for. To make up the shortfall, I started the business. So if I have a good, healthy bank account and I can support my wife and stepdaughter, hopefully they’ll be in Scotland soon to help me expand the business," he said.
Main added with a laugh: "I’d like to give Linda McCartney a run for her money!"
