The Humble British Meat fa*ggot is Back in Fashion (2024)

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fa*ggots are an old-fashioned British foodand 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.

How Are fa*ggots Made?

Traditionally, fa*ggots 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.The mixture of ground meat is then wrapped in some kind of fat, either caul fat or bacon, then baked.

Why Are They Called fa*ggots?

While, unfortunately, this dish shares its name with a slur in American English, in British English the word comes from the way the dish is prepared and presented. The British word "fa*ggot" is an archaic term for a bundle of sticks. For this dish, a ground meat mixture is wrapped in some kind of fat—often caul fat but bacon in this recipe—before cooking, hence the name implying something that is bundled.

How To Serve fa*ggots

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

Tips for Making fa*ggots

• If desired, you can use caul fat instead of bacon. While this is a specialty item, you can order it from dedicated butcher shops.
• The meat should be very cold before grinding. The process of grinding meat heats it up, and if it is heated too much the fat can start to melt, resulting in fa*ggots with a mealy texture.
• If using a food processor, grind the meat in small batches to ensure even grinding and to prevent over-processing. This can cause the fa*ggots to have a tight, bouncy texture.
• Wet your hands slightly with water before shaping the meat mixture into balls to keep it from sticking to your hands.