Farmlands - Pigs in Blankets product reviews

I have never prepared pigs in blankets although I had heard of them, so I had no idea what to expect from this product. However, we both like sausages and we both like bacon which meant we were off to a good start. Since there were only five sausages in the pack, weighing in at a total of 105g per person if we had two and a half each, I decided to play it safe and serve them with a fried egg apiece - this was a good decision because we agreed after dinner that two and a half would not have been quite enough on their own, even when served as part of a meal. We had noodles with added vegetables as well as some leftover guacamole and decided they would go well with the egg-and-blanket dinner.

I realised how differently the sausages cooked as soon as they started to sizzle. I have often fried sausages and bacon in the same pan, but was not prepared for the bacon to slowly melt into the sausage as it cooked. I was fascinated to watch the process; I kept turning them so they would not burn and the streaky bacon was actually fusing to the sausage, forming a crispy skin on the outside. By the time they were ready you could not tell where the bacon had been; it had been completely absorbed as an outer "skin".

They were fully cooked in a matter of minutes, useful as we were hungry. After the first bite, we looked at each other and both nodded. They were delicious, and although they looked tough, they were anything but. The meat was tender and so flavoursome that for once my partner did not reach for the salt cellar after the initial mouthful - there was no salt needed. The taste was reminiscent of a fine salami, spicy and meaty. Although they were delicious served with a side of vegetables, we thought they might also be nice sliced on to a garlic pizza or as a kebab with alternating cloves of garlic. My partner suggested they might be good in a wrap which was then crisped on all sides in a sandwich maker, but I felt it might lessen the effect of the sausage by masking the flavours. This will be an ongoing conversation as we explore other possibilities for these sausages.

I like the product breakdown on the pack. It is easy to read, and confirms that both the bacon and the sausages have a high meat content (90% for both). Some sausages are packed with fillers so it is reassuring to see that a local product has a high nutritional content. I have to monitor my carb intake so this product is ideal for me; some processed foods are otherwise nutritionally sound but are too high in carb content for me to have more than a taste. I will be a returning customer!

As a child, Pigs in Blankets was always on the menu at family gatherings. Someone would always show up with a tupperware container stacked with little pork sausages wrapped in streaky bacon, pinned in place with a bamboo toothpick or skewer. They were always a welcome addition to the pot-luck lunches, and I got to taste a wide array of variations on the theme. I got quite good at being able to tell who made them, because everyone had their own take on the classic.

When I saw these, I knew I had to try them, and was not disappointed. Because I had skipped breakfast, I decided to make them for lunch, and I didn't feel like eggs so opted to style the meal towards a light-dinner instead. Served on a bed of kumara mash brightened up with dried chilli flakes and garlic salt, and spicy chilli beans on the side, these were the star of the dish.

I preheated the frying pan on a medium-high setting for about 5 minutes while I prepared the rest of my meal, then dropped these little beauties into the pan and let them sit for about a minute to render out some of the fats from the bacon, then let them cook with the occasional stir or shake to ensure they cooked evenly on all sides. When they were almost ready, I turned off the element, gave the chilli beans a quick heat up in the microwave before assembling the meal.

The sausage had a wonderful, full texture that highlights the lack of fillers. It's a superior sausage, no denying that. Wrapped in streaky bacon, which releases its fats and oils to aid in cooking, so your non-stick pan will have no trouble providing plenty of heat without you loading your meal up with extra oil. However, that does mean it isn't as easy to cut through with a blunt knife. Real meat doesn't simply 'give way' under the pressure of a dull blade - that's how you tell a real-meat sausage from a filler-packed cheapomatic.

The pack contains 5 bacon-wrapped sausages, which is enough for maybe 1-2 servings depending on the hunger level/s of the diner/s. If planning to serve these for company as part of a larger meal, 2 sausages per diner would be a good 'meat portion' thanks to the extra boost of bacon. However, if you plan on using them as party finger-food, aim to buy at least 1 pack per guest, because they will be popular!

Overall, these are a great treat, and while simple enough to make for yourself, the quality ingredients and the time-saving convenience make them a relatively affordable option for 'no-risk, sure to impress' option should you need it in a hurry.