The real heroes of Christmas dinner, pigs in blankets are clear proof that everything is better wrapped in bacon. There’s always room for improvement, though – so upgrade your festive feast with our all-star cast of bacon-swaddled beauties. These pigs will fly!
RECIPES TOM SHINGLER PHOTOGRAPH KRIS KIRKHAM FOOD STYLING LOLA FAURA STYLING TONY HUTCHINSON
★ COVER RECIPE Pigs and devils in blankets
Makes 8 Hands-on time 15 min Oven time 25-30 min
Devils on horseback meet pigs in blankets for this ultimate mash-up of sweet and salty goodness. They’re just begging to be dunked into your cranberry sauce.
• 4 streaky bacon rashers
• 8 chipolatas
• 8 soft pitted dried prunes, halved
• 4 rosemary sprigs, cut into small sprigs, woody stalks removed
• Handful sage leaves
• Cranberry sauce to serve (optional)
1 Heat the oven to 170°C fan/gas 5. Cut each rasher of bacon in half, then firmly run the back of a knife blade along each piece to stretch it out a little.
2 Wrap a piece of bacon around each chipolata, tucking 2 prune halves into each package. Tuck in some rosemary and a few sage leaves as you work, then use cocktail sticks to hold everything in place. Put on a roasting tray.
3 Roast for 25-30 minutes until golden, turning now and then. Remove the sticks and serve with cranberry sauce as a dip (if using).
Per pig 124kcals, 8.5g fat (2.9g saturated), 8.3g protein, 3.4g carbs (1.8g sugars), 1g salt, 0.5g fibre
Sheep in blankets Makes 8 Hands-on time 5 min Oven time 15 min
Firm halloumi gets wrapped up in a snug bacon duvet with sweet honey and a little oregano as a nod to this morsel’s Cypriot roots.
• 1 block (225g) halloumi
• 4 streaky bacon rashers
• Runny honey to drizzle
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
1 Heat the oven to 170°C fan/gas 5. Cut the block of halloumi in half horizontally to create 2 thinner sheets of cheese. Cut each sheet into 4 batons.
2 Cut each rasher of bacon in half, then firmly run the back of your knife blade along each piece to stretch it out a bit. Roll each halloumi baton up in the bacon, using a cocktail stick to secure it in place. Put on a baking tray.
3 Roast the halloumi in the oven for 15 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the cheese has softened. Drizzle with honey, then sprinkle with dried oregano.
Per sheep 144kcals, 10g fat (5.8g saturated), 7.7g protein, 5.5g carbs (2.8g sugars), 1.1g salt, 0.5g fibre
Mermaids in blankets Makes 8 Hands-on time 10 min
A great little nibble that’s ready in a flash, these bright little bites are also incredible stuffed in a sandwich with plenty of mayo and a handful of rocket. If you’re
