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Black Country faggots
Pork liver meatballs in gravy
Pork liver and herb meatballs in rich gravy
BritishFaggots are the thrifty meatballs of the Black Country, the industrial towns west of Birmingham, sold by butchers and served at chip shops with mushy peas and gravy. They are made from pork liver, pork belly and onion with breadcrumbs, sage and mace, and baked in a deep onion gravy. This is a pork dish. Chef's tip: wrap each faggot in caul fat if your butcher has it; it bastes them and holds them together.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz pig's livertrimmed
- 10 ½ oz pork belly, skinless
- 1 onionquartered
- 3 ½ oz fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp dried sage
- ½ tsp ground mace
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 7 oz pig's caul fat (optional)soaked
- 2 onionssliced
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 14 oz mushy peas (optional)to serve
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Mince the 10 ½ oz pig's liver, 10 ½ oz pork belly, skinless and 1 onion together in a food processor or mincer until coarse.
5 minStep 2: Mix with the 3 ½ oz fresh breadcrumbs, 1 tsp dried sage, ½ tsp ground mace, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper and shape into 8 balls. Wash your hands and the board well after handling raw liver.
8 minStep 3: Wrap each ball in a piece of 7 oz pig's caul fat if using and put them in a deep baking dish.
5 minStep 4: Fry the 2 onions in the 1 tbsp vegetable oil for 8 minutes until golden, stir in the 1 tbsp plain flour, then the 2 cups beef stock, and simmer 2 minutes. Pour around the faggots.
10 minStep 5: Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 20 minutes more until browned and 160°F in the centre. A common mistake is serving them pink in the middle; pork and liver must be cooked through.
50 minStep 6: Serve with 14 oz mushy peas and plenty of gravy.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 510 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does black Country faggots take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of fresh breadcrumbs?
- Crushed crackers or cornflakes, same amount.
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