Classic British Faggots

By
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/17/21
Classic British Faggots

The Spruce
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 60 mins
Total: 80 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
668 Calories
39g Fat
27g Carbs
49g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 668
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 39g 50%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 225mg 75%
Sodium 1308mg 57%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 49g
Vitamin C 27mg 135%
Calcium 112mg 9%
Iron 8mg 46%
Potassium 692mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Faggots are an old-fashioned British food and one that has sadly fallen out of favor in recent years. How lovely that there is a revival of interest in this humble meat dish, possibly because they are so easy and cheap to make.

Traditionally, faggots are made from offal, usually pork, and from the bits of the animal that are generally discarded but now tend to just be the liver and possibly, the heart. 

Serve these delicious morsels with a bowl of light, fluffy, mashed potatoes,​ and gravy.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces/110 grams fatty pork shoulder, roughly chopped

  • 4 ounces/110 grams pig's liver, roughly chopped

  • 8 ounces/250 grams fatty belly pork, roughly chopped

  • 4 ounces/110 grams bacon scraps

  • 4 ounces/110 grams breadcrumbs

  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon mace

  • 1 teaspoon allspice

  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

  • 2 sage leaves, finely chopped

  • 1 small red chile, de-seeded and finely chopped

  • Salt, to taste

  • Pepper, to taste

  • Caul fat or streaky bacon

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat the oven to 445 F / 170 C / Gas 3.

  3. Mince all the roughly chopped meats in a hand mincer.

    Ground meat for British faggots.
     The Spruce

  4. Place the minced meat into a large bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, the onion, the herbs, spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.

    Minced meat mixture.
     The Spruce

  5. Wet your hands under running cold water, then divide and roll the minced meat mixture into 8 evenly-sized balls.

    Minced meat balls.
     The Spruce

  6. Wrap each ball in caul or streaky bacon, making sure the caul or bacon overlaps and is secure.

    Meat balls wrapped in streaky bacon.
     The Spruce

  7. Place the faggots onto a baking sheet.

    Baking British faggots.
     The Spruce

  8. Bake in the hot oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

    Baked British faggots.
     The Spruce

  9. Once cooked, remove from the oven and serve immediately. If you are not ready to eat the faggots then wrap in foil and keep warm.

    Classic British Faggots
     The Spruce

  10. Enjoy!

Tip

  • If you don't have a hand mincer for Step 3, then chop using a food processor, but do take care not to over mix or you will create a mush.
  • Traditionally, faggots are served hot from the oven with creamy mashed potatoes and peas, preferably mushy peas and lashings of rich, thick onion gravy.
  • Caul is the membrane that holds in animal organs and it makes a good container for the faggots. If you can't get caul, then use strips of streaky bacon but if you ask your butcher, they may be able to find some for you.