Pigs in a blanket facts for kids

Pigs in a blanket (also pigs in blankets) is a variety of different sausage-based culinary dishes. Smaller versions of the dish are commonly served as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre, sometimes with a mustard or aioli dipping sauce, or are accompanied by other foods during the main course.

In the United Kingdom the term is commonly used for small sausages (usually chipolatas) wrapped in bacon; in the United States it typically refers to hot dogs wrapped in croissant pastry.

United Kingdom

British "pigs in blankets", prior to cooking

In the United Kingdom, "pigs in blankets" refers to small sausages (usually chipolatas) wrapped in bacon. They are a traditional accompaniment to roast turkey in a Christmas dinner.

The name "pigs in blankets" in the United Kingdom dates from 1957, and there are regional variations, including "wrapped sausages", "pigs in skins" and in Scotland, "kilted sausages" or "kilted soldiers".

United States

American-style pigs in a blanket

In the United States, the term "pigs in a blanket" typically refers to hot dogs in croissant dough, but may include Vienna sausages, cocktail or breakfast/link sausages baked inside biscuit dough or croissant dough. The dough is sometimes homemade, but canned dough is most common. Pancake dough is also sometimes used, although this combination is more commonly served like a corn dog and sold as a pancake on a stick. The larger variety is served as a quick and easy main course or a light meal (particularly for children) at lunch or supper while the smaller version is served as an appetizer. In Texas, Kolaches or Klobasneks are a similar dish which originates from Czech Immigrants. The meat or savory part, often a sausage but not always, is wrapped in kolache dough and not croissant dough. This dish in Texas is most commonly referred to as "Kolaches". Traditional Czech style kolaches however are a sweet dish and not a savory dish.

They are also sold in the US as "franks in a blanket" or "franks in blanks".

Elsewhere

A sausage bun (cheung jai bau) from Hong Kong

A number of countries have similar foods with similar names.

In Italy, particularly in the Sicily region, a similar preparation is made and sold as fast food or in bakeries.

Sausage in pastry

The name can also refer to Czech-American dish, klobasnek, a sausage in kolach dough.

The German Würstchen im Schlafrock ("sausage in a dressing gown") uses sausages wrapped in puff pastry or, more rarely, pancakes. Cheese and bacon are sometimes present.

In Russia, the dish is named Сосиска в тесте (Sosiska v teste, "sausage in dough").

In Israel, Moshe Ba'Teiva (Moses in the basket) is a children's dish consisting of a kosher hot dog rolled in a sheet of puff pastry and baked.

In Finland, sausages in pastry are known as nakkipiilo.

In Mexico, the sausage is wrapped in a tortilla and deep fried in vegetable oil. The name "salchitaco" comes from the fusion of the words salchicha (sausage) and taco (sausage taco).

In Argentina, the sausage is topped with ketchup and then wrapped in empanada dough and baked.

As a matter of definition, the term "pigs in a blanket" has rarely been used in both Australia and New Zealand.

In China, a Chinese sausage wrapped in pastry is called "Lap Cheong Bao" and is steamed rather than baked. In southern Canton, particularly Hong Kong, a sausage wrapped in pastry is called cheung jai bau (腸仔包) or "hot dog bun" and is baked instead of being steamed.

In Estonia, they are referred to as "viineripirukas", which means "sausage pastry".

In Serbia, the dish has a name rol viršla (lit. (hot) dog roll). Rol viršla is a very popular type of fast food in Serbia.

In Belgium, this is a traditional dish from the city of Namur, where it is called "". Historically it was a sausage or sausage meat in bread dough, replaced nowadays with puff pastry.

In the Netherlands, especially in the province of North Brabant a sausage or sausage meat in bread dough is known as a "Worstenbroodje", which means "sausage bread". In the rest of the Country the "Saucijzenbroodje" is more known, This is almost the same, but the Dough is more a Pastry dough and its shape is more like a square.

In Brazil, the sausage is wrapped in bread-like dough, then baked. It's known as Enroladinho de Salsicha, which means something like Sausage Roll, and it's both a fast food and a snack.

In Denmark, the American-style pigs in a blanket are known as Pølsehorn, meaning "sausage horns".

Sausage in bacon

In Denmark, there is a dish similar to the British-style dish known as the Pølse i svøb, which means "sausage in blanket", usually sold at hot dog stands known as pølsevogn (sausage-wagons).

In Austria and Germany, a sausage filled with cheese and rolled in bacon is known as Berner Würstchen, not named after the town but the chef Erich Berner.

See also

In Spanish: Pigs in a blanket para niños