It may sound 'offal', the combination of sheep heart, lungs and liver minced with oats and stuffed inside a stomach, but haggis has firmly held its place as Scotland's national dish for hundreds of years.

While haggis is considered to be Scottish, many writers have differing opinions of its origin, with some claiming it was created in the north west of England and others suggesting it came to the UK from Scandinavia.

Yet it's popularity in Scotland is largely thanks to Robert Burns, the celebrated 18th century poet and songwriter, from Ayrshire, who penned Address to a Haggis in 1787.

No Burns Supper, which celebrates the birthday of the bard, is complete without reciting the poem to the star of the show.

While haggis is synonymous with mashed neeps and tatties, it's popularity amongst Scots means it is cooked and enjoyed in more unusual ways.

With ice cream, toasties, pizzas and pies featuring the spiced dish, here are eight alternative ways to enjoy haggis on Burns Night.

Haggis and marmalade ice cream

Given the classic Burns Day treatment, a tub of this sweet and savoury ice cream by Mackie's of Scotland will be paraded through the streets of Aberdeen accompanied by a piper on January 25 before being served up in tubs and cones for customers in its city centre parlour.

The unique ice cream blend boasts one haggis per tub of ice cream, so you know each lick and spoonful will be full of sweet and spicy notes.

Haggis, neeps and tatties soup

Burns night in a bowl, this warming soup recipe combines the very essence of a traditional haggis dinner.

The classic accompaniments of potatoes and neeps are blended with onion, carrots and celery, and swirled with double cream to create a thick soup perfect for topping with crispy pan-fried haggis.

Vegan Haggis and Balsamic Onion Pizza

Glasgow vegan haunt Stereo offers customers who miss their pizza fix with a Scottish version without an animal product in sight.

Covered in vegan cheese with crumbled vegan haggis, balsamic onions and a drizzle of glaze, this Scottish twist on an Italian classic is perfect for those looking for an alternative way to toast the bard on January 25.

Alternatively, Stereo's haggis pakora is another option for those looking for a vegan alternative to the classic Burns dinner.

'Scots Wha Hae' burger

The Boozy Cow is well known for its creative specials, from lasagne burgers to Philly steak, but this week's creation is so Scottish its run has been extended for a further week.

The 'Scots Wha Hae' burger, named after a famous Burns song, features a haggis patty, potato croquette, turnip fritters and whisky sauce stuffed inside a burger bun, with an oatcake bomb wrapped in bacon nestled on top.

While this concoction is exclusive to the Aberdeen branch, the Edinburgh burger joint's 'Bobby's a Beastie' special features haggis, breaded neeps, tatties and a beef patty smothered in whisky sauce served in a brioche bun.

Haggis pie

A showstopper to serve on the table on Burns night, this layered pie features mashed tatties and neeps housed in a crispy shortcrust pastry shell.

A step up from your individual haggis pie from your local bakers, this dinner dish would be perfect with a drizzle of homemade whisky sauce and a dram to toast the bard.

Vegan haggis

The traditional recipe for haggis calls for the use of offal, including heart, lungs and liver, making use of the parts of the animal often discarded due to our changing tastes.

Yet for vegetarians or vegans who still crave the spicy, crumbly texture, there is a way to make an animal product-free version to served with mashed tatties and neeps.

Made with plenty of vegetables, lentils and good helping of marmite, all you need to serve it is a good recounting of Address to a Haggis.

Haggis nachos

Forget TexMex, this dish is all about ScotsMex. Forgoing the usual chilli or chicken for spicy haggis, this recipe is perfect for dipping into in front of the television whilst watching your favourite Scottish film on Burns night.

Tortilla chips are smothered with cheese, sour cream, guacamole, jalapenos and salsa with a good helping of easy-cook haggis on top. Super simple for when you can't be bothered to boil a haggis for hours on end.

Haggis toastie

Gourmet cheese toastie shop Melt in Aberdeen serves up speciality toasties unlike any other, earning it a place in the top ten grilled cheese stops in the UK.

Doorstop slices of sourdough are slathered butter and a blend of bechamel sauce and cheese then stuffed with haggis, smoked bacon and cheese.

Alternatively, pasta fans can attempt to get their hands around 'The Bruiser' - an epic toastie filled with macaroni cheese, bacon and haggis.