Olivia Carter
Faggots are a traditional British dish that originated in the Midlands. Made from minced pork liver and belly meat, complemented by herbs and spices, these tasty meatballs are slow-cooked to perfection. Using a slow cooker to prepare faggots allows for a hands-off approach, resulting in tender and flavorful meatballs that practically melt in your mouth. Whether you’re a fan of hearty British cuisine or simply curious to try something new, this easy-to-follow recipe will guide you through the steps of cooking faggots in a slow cooker.
To begin, gather the necessary ingredients for your faggots. You will need minced pork liver and belly meat, breadcrumbs, onion, herbs such as parsley and thyme, as well as spices like nutmeg and allspice. These ingredients can be easily found at your local butcher or supermarket, ensuring that your faggots will be made with fresh and high-quality ingredients.
Next, prepare the faggot mixture by combining the minced pork liver and belly meat in a large mixing bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, finely chopped onion, herbs, and spices. Use your hands to thoroughly mix all the ingredients together, ensuring that they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. This will help to enhance the flavor and texture of the faggots.
Once the mixture is well combined, shape it into individual faggots, roughly the size of a golf ball. Place the faggots in the slow cooker, making sure they are spaced evenly and not stacked on top of each other. The slow cooker allows the faggots to gently cook and simmer in their own juices, resulting in incredibly tender and flavorful meatballs.
Preparing Faggots for Slow Cooking
When it comes to preparing faggots for slow cooking, there are a few key steps you need to follow to ensure a delicious and tender result.
1. Sourcing High-Quality Faggots
Start by sourcing high-quality faggots from a reputable butcher or grocery store. Look for faggots that are made with fresh ingredients and have a nice balance of meat and offal. Traditional faggots are typically made with a mixture of pork meat, liver, and onions.
2. Preparing the Faggot Mixture
In a large mixing bowl, combine the faggot ingredients, including the minced pork meat, liver, onions, breadcrumbs, herbs, and seasonings. Mix everything together thoroughly until well combined. This mixture is the key to flavorful faggots, so take your time to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
Top tip: If you prefer a smoother texture, you can blitz the liver in a food processor before adding it to the mixture.
3. Shaping the Faggots
Take a small handful of the faggot mixture and shape it into a ball. Repeat this process until all of the mixture is used up. The size of the faggot balls is a matter of personal preference, but aim for golf ball-sized faggots for even cooking.
Top tip: Wetting your hands with a little water while shaping the faggots will prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.
4. Browning the Faggots
To enhance the flavor and texture of the faggots, it is recommended to brown them before slow cooking. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and add a little oil. Place the faggots in the pan and cook until they are browned on all sides. This step will help seal in the juices and add a delicious caramelized flavor to the final dish.
5. Transferring to the Slow Cooker
Once the faggots are browned, transfer them to the slow cooker. You can make a flavorful gravy or sauce to accompany the faggots by deglazing the frying pan with some beef stock or vegetable broth and pouring it over the faggots in the slow cooker.
Top tip: If you prefer a thicker and richer sauce, you can add a tablespoon of flour to the frying pan after deglazing and cook until it thickens before pouring it over the faggots.
With these steps, you can now confidently prepare faggots for slow cooking. The slow cooking process will further tenderize the faggots and infuse them with the flavors of the accompanying sauce. Enjoy the comforting and delicious taste of homemade slow-cooked faggots!
Gather the Ingredients
Before you start cooking faggots in a slow cooker, you need to gather all the necessary ingredients. Here is what you will need:
1. Faggots
Look for faggots in your local butcher shop or supermarket. Faggots are traditional British meatballs made from minced offal meat, such as liver and heart, combined with breadcrumbs or oatmeal.
2. Onion
1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped. The onion will add a savory flavor to the faggots.
3. Beef or Pork Stock
You will need approximately 500ml of beef or pork stock to create a delicious gravy to accompany the faggots.
4. Worcestershire Sauce
This savory sauce adds a tangy and rich flavor to the faggots. You will need around 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.
5. Bread
You will need 1 or 2 slices of bread, depending on the texture you want to achieve. If you prefer a denser consistency, use 1 slice; if you prefer a softer texture, use 2 slices. The bread will help bind the faggots together.
6. Seasonings
For seasoning, you will need salt, pepper, and parsley. These will enhance the overall taste of the faggots and add a touch of freshness.
Make sure you have all the ingredients ready before starting the cooking process. This will make the preparation smoother and more enjoyable.
Combine the Ingredients
To prepare the faggots in the slow cooker, you will need the following ingredients:
- 500g of pork mince
- 100g of pork liver, finely chopped
- 100g of bread crumbs
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of dried sage
- 1 tablespoon of dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step 1: Preparing the Meat Mixture
In a large mixing bowl, combine the pork mince, chopped pork liver, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, dried sage, dried thyme, Worcestershire sauce, beaten egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Step 2: Shaping the Faggots
Take a handful of the meat mixture and shape it into a ball using your hands. Repeat this step until all the mixture is used up, placing each shaped faggot onto a plate or tray.
Note: Faggots are traditionally made into small, round balls, but you can shape them to your preference.
Cooking Faggots in a Slow Cooker
Slow cookers are a fantastic tool for making delicious and hearty meals with minimal effort. If you’re looking to try something new, why not cook faggots in a slow cooker? Faggots are a traditional British dish made from seasoned pork mince, breadcrumbs, and onion, typically served with mashed potatoes and gravy.
Using a slow cooker to make faggots allows the flavors to meld together slowly, resulting in tender and flavorful meatballs. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:
- In a mixing bowl, combine 500g pork mince, 100g fresh breadcrumbs, 1 small finely chopped onion, 1 teaspoon dried sage, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Shape the mixture into small, round balls, about the size of golf balls.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add a little oil. Brown the faggots on all sides to seal in the flavors.
- Transfer the browned faggots to the slow cooker.
- In the same pan, add 1 chopped onion and cook until softened. Add 2 tablespoons flour and stir to coat the onions.
- Add 500ml beef stock, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Pour the gravy over the faggots in the slow cooker, making sure they are fully covered.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the faggots are cooked through and tender.
- Serve the faggots with mashed potatoes and vegetables of your choice, drizzling the extra gravy on top for a delicious and comforting meal.
Using a slow cooker to cook faggots allows you to set it and forget it while the flavors develop and intensify. This makes it a great option for busy days or when you want to enjoy a tasty meal without spending too much time in the kitchen. Give it a try and impress your family and friends with this classic British dish!
Serving and Enjoying Slow Cooker Faggots
Once your slow cooker faggots are cooked to perfection, it’s time to serve and enjoy this hearty and delicious dish. Here are some serving suggestions and tips to enhance your dining experience:
1. Plating: Transfer the cooked faggots to a serving dish or individual plates. You can serve them as they are or slice them into bite-sized pieces for easier consumption.
2. Traditional Accompaniments: Slow cooker faggots traditionally pair well with mashed potatoes and mushy peas. The creamy texture of the potatoes and the flavorful mushy peas complement the richness of the faggots perfectly.
3. Gravy: Pour a generous amount of rich, meaty gravy over the faggots. This will enhance the flavors and add moisture to the dish. You can make gravy using the cooking liquid from the slow cooker or prepare a separate gravy using beef stock and flour.
4. Additional Vegetables: If you want to add more vegetables to your meal, serve some steamed carrots or roasted root vegetables alongside the faggots. The sweetness of the vegetables will provide a nice contrast to the savory faggots.
5. Garnish: Sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley or thyme over the faggots for a pop of color and added freshness. This will also help to balance out the richness of the dish.
6. Wine Pairing: For a complete dining experience, pair your slow cooker faggots with a glass of red wine. The robust flavors of the faggots pair well with a full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec.
7. Leftovers: If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the microwave or oven for a quick and satisfying meal.
By following these serving suggestions, you can create a memorable dining experience with your slow cooker faggots. Enjoy the combination of flavors, textures, and aromas that this classic British dish has to offer!
Questions and answers
Can you explain what faggots are?
Faggots are traditional British meatballs made from pork liver, onions, and breadcrumbs. They are usually seasoned with herbs and spices and are cooked in a rich gravy.
What temperature should I set my slow cooker to when cooking faggots?
You should set your slow cooker to low heat when cooking faggots. This allows the meat to cook slowly and become tender.
How long should I cook faggots in a slow cooker?
Faggots should be cooked in a slow cooker for about 6 to 8 hours on low heat. This long cooking time ensures that the meatballs are fully cooked and flavorful.
