Pigs in a blanket

Pigs in a blanket

Alternative names	Kilted sausages
Type	Hot dog
Media: Pigs in a blanket

Pigs in blankets (also known as Wesley dogs, worstenbroodjes or saucijzenbroodjes (Dutch), kilted sausages (Scotland), or in Danish pølsehorn) refers to a variety of different sausage-based foods in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, Canada, and Japan. They are typically small in size and can be eaten in one or two bites. For this reason, they are usually served as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre or are accompanied by other dishes in the 'main course' section of a meal. In the West, especially in the United States and Canada, the bite sized variety of pigs in a blanket is a common hors d'oeuvre served at cocktail parties and is often accompanied by a mustard or aioli dipping sauce.

Pigs in a blanket are usually different from sausage rolls, which are a larger, more filling item served for breakfast and lunch in parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and, more rarely, the United States and Canada.

United States

American-style pigs in a blanket

In the United States, the term "pigs in a blanket" often refers to hot dogs, Vienna sausages, cocktail or breakfast/link sausages wrapped in biscuit dough, pancake, or croissant dough, and baked. The dough is sometimes homemade, but canned dough is most common. They are somewhat similar to a sausage roll or (by extension) a baked corn dog. They are served as an appetizer, a children's dish, or as a breakfast entree. A common variation is to stuff the hot dog or sausage with cheese before wrapping it in dough.

At breakfast or brunch, the term "pigs in a blanket" refers to sausage links with pancake wrapped around it.

In regions heavily influenced by Slovak immigrants, such as northern Pennsylvania, the southern tier of New York, and northeastern Ohio, the term usually refers instead to stuffed cabbage rolls, such as the Polish or Ukrainian gołąbki.

In much of central and southeast Texas (including Austin and Houston) the term "kolache" has been widely misappropriated to describe a variety of dough-wrapped breakfast goods, including sausages of several types wrapped in both biscuit and croissant dough. It would seem that the term "klobasnek" is more technically correct for this variety; perhaps "kolache" was deemed easier to pronounce and was therefore seized upon by local merchants. They can be found in virtually every doughnut shop, and at least one "kolache-themed" chain is currently in operation.

The American Farm Bureau Foundation's Dates to Celebrate Agriculture calendar includes a "National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day" to be observed every April 24.

United Kingdom

Christmas Dinner in the UK - pigs in blankets at top right of plate

In the United Kingdom, "pigs in blankets" refers to small sausages (usually Chipolatas) wrapped in bacon. They are a traditional accompaniment to roast turkey for Christmas dinner. They are also known as Tiger tails in The Westcountry. Pigs in blankets can be accompanied with devils on horseback, an appetizer of prunes, or less commonly dates, wrapped in bacon.

Elsewhere

The name can also refer to klobasnek (a kind of kolache filled with sausage or ham slices). The German Würstchen im Schlafrock ("sausage in a dressing gown") uses sausages wrapped in puff pastry or, more rarely, pancakes. Cheese and bacon are sometimes present.

In Russia, this dish is named Сосиска в тесте (Sosiska v teste, "sausage in dough").

In Israel, Moshe Ba'Teiva (Moses in the ark) is a children's dish consisting of a hot dog rolled in a ketchup-covered sheet of puff pastry or phyllo dough and baked.

In the Netherlands, in Belgium and among Dutch Americans, the dish is called Saucijzenbroodjes or Worstenbroodjes, often translated casually as "pigs in the blanket" in English. The dish consists of a pork sausage filling wrapped in a puff pastry dough made with shortening. They are often eaten as a breakfast food at restaurants, but homemade versions may be served at festivals or on special occasions as well.

In Denmark, they have a dish similar to the British-style dish known as the "Pølse i svøb" which means "Sausage in blanket". The American-style Pigs in a blanket are known as "Pølsehorn", meaning "Sausage horns".

In Finland, pigs in blanket is known as "nakkipiilo", which means "hidden sausage" if it is translated freely.

In Mexico, the sausage is wrapped in tortilla and deep fried in vegetable oil. The name "salchitaco" comes from the fusion of the words "salchicha"(sausage) and taco (sausage taco).

See also

• Bagel dog
• Galette saucisse
• Hot dog
• Klobasnek
• Panchuker
• Pepperoni roll
• Sausage roll
• Sausage bun
• Toad in the hole

External links

• Retro Shack: The Hot Dog Goes Haute