Pigs in blankets

Lore & Background

Pigs in blankets is a dish served in the United Kingdom and Ireland consisting of small sausages (usually chipolatas) wrapped in bacon. In general it is a seasonal item, seldom offered commercially outside the Christmas season. It has spawned food-industry offshoot products such as pigs-in-blankets flavoured mayonnaise, peanuts, crisps, vaping liquid, and chocolates, as well as versions of Christmas-associated consumer items such as pyjamas made with a pigs-in-blankets print.

Reader's Guide

Pigs in blankets are considered a staple of the Christmas season, according to Good Housekeeping and The Independent. In 2013, 12 December was declared National Pigs in Blankets Day. Tesco in 2019 reported that a majority of shoppers they surveyed planned to serve the dish at Christmas dinner and that more planned to serve pigs in blankets than any other side dish, including Yorkshire pudding. Traditionally the sausage used is a cocktail-sized pork-based chipolata and the wrapping a streaky bacon, but variations include those using chorizo or chicken sausage, using sausages with added ingredients such as apples or chestnuts, using full-sized chipolatas, or using flavoured or smoked bacon. Commercially available varieties may have around 325 calories and 22 g of fat per 100 g serving. The wrapped sausages may be pan-fried, baked, or a combination. They may also be served on Boxing Day.

Did You Know?

• Tesco in 2019 reported that more shoppers planned to serve pigs in blankets than Yorkshire pudding at Christmas dinner.
• The dish has inspired offshoot products such as pigs-in-blankets flavoured vaping liquid and chocolates.
• In Denmark, a similar bacon-wrapped sausage served in a bun is called Pølse i svøb.