pigs in a blanket

Pigs in a blanket is a small hot dog or other sausage wrapped in pastry commonly served as an appetizer in the United States. The similarity in name with that of the UK dish pigs in blankets, which is a sausage wrapped in bacon, sometimes causes confusion.

Ingredients and preparation

The term "pigs in a blanket" typically refers to hot dogs in croissant dough, but may include Vienna sausages, cocktail or breakfast/link sausages baked inside biscuit dough or croissant dough. American cookbooks from the 1800s have recipes for "little pigs in blankets", but this is a rather different dish of oysters rolled in bacon similar to angels on horseback. The modern version can be traced back to at least 1940, when a US Army cookbook lists "Pork Sausage Links (Pigs) in Blankets".

The dough is sometimes homemade, but canned dough is most common. Pancake dough is also sometimes used, although this combination is more commonly served like a corn dog and sold as a pancake on a stick. The larger variety is served as a quick and easy main course or a light meal (particularly for children) at lunch or supper while the smaller version is served as an appetizer. In Texas, kolaches or klobasneks are a similar dish which originates from Czech immigrants. The meat or savory part, often a sausage but not always, is wrapped in kolache dough and not croissant dough. This dish in Texas is most commonly referred to as "kolache", although traditional Czech-style kolaches are a sweet dish, not a savory dish.

Serving

Smaller versions of the dish are commonly served as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre, sometimes with a mustard or aioli dipping sauce, or are accompanied by other foods during the main course.

Similar dishes

A number of countries have similar foods under a variety of names.

In Argentina, the sausage is topped with ketchup and then wrapped in empanada dough and baked.

In Belgium, this is a traditional dish from the city of Namur, where it is called " avisance". Historically it was a sausage or sausage meat in bread dough, replaced nowadays with puff pastry.

In Brazil, the sausage is wrapped in bread-like dough, then baked. It's known as ''enroladinho de salsicha'', which means something like "sausage roll", and it's both a fast food and a snack.

In China, a Chinese sausage wrapped in pastry is called "là cháng bāo" (腊肠包, ) and is steamed rather than baked.

The name can also refer to a Czech-American dish, klobasnek, a sausage in ''kolach'' dough.

In Denmark and in Sweden, a hot dog wrapped in bread is called a ''fransk hot dog'' (). The name is a reference to the bread's similarity to a baguette. In Denmark, American-style pigs in a blanket are known as ''pølsehorn'', meaning "sausage horns".

In Estonia, they are referred to as "viineripirukas", which means "sausage pastry".

In Finland, sausages in pastry are known as ''nakkipiilo'' ().

The German ''Würstchen im Schlafrock'' ("''sausage in a dressing gown''") uses sausages wrapped in puff pastryWürstchen im Schlafrock
Retrieved 9 September 2008 or, more rarely, pancakes. Cheese and bacon are sometimes present.

In Hong Kong, a sausage wrapped in pastry is called ''cheung jai baau'' (腸仔包, ) and is baked.

In Israel, ''Moshe Ba'Teiva'' (Moses in the basket) is a children's dish consisting of a kosher hot dog rolled in a sheet of puff pastry and baked.

In Italy, ''Rollò con würstel'' is a street food found in Palermo, Sicily made of brioche dough and wurstel.

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

In the Netherlands, especially in the province of North Brabant a sausage or sausage meat in bread dough is known as a "worstenbroodje", which means "sausage bread". In the rest of the country the "saucijzenbroodje" is more known. This is almost the same, but the dough is more a pastry dough and its shape is more like a rectangle.

In New Zealand a "pig in a blanket" is a sausage wrapped in a slice of bread, often with onions and/or sauce added. Frequently sold as a charity fundraiser.

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

In Serbia, the dish has a name ''rol viršla'' (). Rol viršla is a very popular type of fast food in Serbia.

See also

* Bagel dog
* Corn dog
* Hot dog
* Egg in the basket
* Galette-saucisse
* Klobasnek
* Pepperoni roll
* Sausage roll
* Toad in the hole
* List of bread dishes
* List of sausage dishes
* List of stuffed dishes

References

External links

Retro Shack: The Hot Dog Goes Haute

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pigs in a Blanket
Bread dishes
Sausage dishes
Stuffed dishes
American pork dishes