Faggots (with mash and gravy)

20.04.17

 

Declan Greene’s The Homosexuals or ‘Faggots’ was commissioned by friends of Bruce Meagher and Greg Waters in celebration of a significant anniversary for the pair. So when they all attended the show last week, Greg arrived at the Griffin kitchen ready to cook up some delicious faggots to serve afterwards in honour of the show, replete with the traditional mash, peas and gravy.

Here’s the recipe with instructions. (Just a note: Greg advises that unless you have an amazing specialty butcher, you’ll probably need to pre-order meat.) Enjoy! 

Ingredients

– 1.5 kg minced belly pork

– 1 kg minced shoulder pork

– 500 g pork liver (or more to taste)

– 1 large onion

– 50g butter

– 300g breadcrumbs

– 2 teaspoons nutmeg

– 1 teaspoon allspice

– Fresh sage chopped

– Fresh thyme chopped

– 2 teaspoons dried sage

– 2 tablespoon salt

– 2 teaspoons white pepper

– 12 strips streaky bacon

 

For the gravy

– 1 large onion

– 100g butter

– Plain flour

– 4 cups beef stock

– Worcestershire sauce

 

Instructions

  1. Turn the oven to 220C.

  2. Sauté onions in 50g butter (tastier) or oil (healthier).

  3. Trim and cut liver into strips, give a quick blast in a food processor.

  4. Mix sautéed onions, pork, liver, breadcrumbs, herbs, spices in a large mixing bowl, start with a wooden spoon but you will need to use your hands once the liver is incorporated and feels less disgusting.

  5. Form mixture into balls that fit nicely into your hand and can be completely wrapped in a strip of streaky bacon. Arrange in a baking tray. 

  6. Bake for 20-25 mins or until they take on a nice roasted colour, turn faggots over bake for another 20-25 mins.

  7. Pan fry onion in butter (or oil) until nicely caramelised

  8. Transfer faggots to clean baking tray, return to oven.

  9. Add cooked onions and butter to used baking tray incorporating pan juices and any roasted pieces. On the stove-top (medium heat) add enough flour to absorb pan juices and form a roux. Add beef stock, slowly at first, stirring constantly until a thin gravy is formed. Add pepper and Worcestershire sauce to taste.

  10. Pour gravy over roasting faggots and continue to bake for 30-40 mins, turning once.

  11. Serve on a bed of mashed potato and peas.