Faggot (food) facts for kids
Faggots, gravy, mashed potatoes and marrowfat processed peas
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| Course | Main dish |
|---|---|
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Pig's heart, liver, fatty belly meat or bacon |
Faggots are a type of meatball popular in the United Kingdom. They are a traditional dish, especially in parts of Wales and the English Midlands.
These meatballs are usually made from minced (finely chopped) parts of a pig. This often includes pig's heart, liver, and fatty belly meat. Herbs are added for flavour, and sometimes bread crumbs are mixed in.
Faggots started as a simple, affordable meal for people living in the countryside. They were common in Western England, especially in areas like Wiltshire and the West Midlands. Their popularity grew and spread, particularly to South Wales in the mid-1800s. This happened when many farm workers moved to the area for jobs in new factories and mines.
In some places like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire, faggots are also called "ducks" or "savoury ducks."
How Faggots Are Made and Eaten
A common faggot recipe includes minced pork liver and heart. These are mixed with onion and breadcrumbs, then wrapped in bacon.
Faggots are often cooked slowly in a pot with gravy. They are usually served hot with peas and mashed potato.
To make them, the mixture is shaped by hand into small balls. These balls are then wrapped in caul fat. Caul fat is a thin membrane from the pig's stomach area. After being wrapped, the faggots are baked. Sometimes, faggots can also be made with beef instead of pork.
Faggots Today
This dish became very popular during World War II. Food was scarce, so people used all parts of the animal. However, their popularity slowly went down in the years after the war.
Many people still make faggots at home using family recipes. You can often find them in traditional butchers' shops and market stalls. Some supermarkets also sell mass-produced frozen faggots. These often contain liver and onions, rolled into meatballs with a sauce. They might have a smoother texture than traditional, homemade faggots.
A popular meal is "faggots and peas." This combination is very common in the Black Country area of the West Midlands. Many small butchers in this area still sell faggots made with their own special recipes.
See also
