Pigs in Blanket Pasta

Chef Aidan says: “Everybody loves a pig in blanket at Christmas, I don’t know why they’re reserved for December to be honest, because they’re always a favourite on my family’s dinner table. This easy, one-pot pasta bake will wow your guests on Christmas Day as a new take on a much-loved side dish or is sure to be crowd pleaser as a main meal alongside salad and garlic bread if you’re having friends over for dinner and drinks during December”

Our first recipe is an absolute crowd-pleaser – Pigs in Blankets Pasta! This dish combines two beloved classics – pigs in blankets and pasta – into one mouthwatering creation. The result? A hearty and comforting meal that will leave everyone craving for more. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced chef – our step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process of preparing this delicious dish with ease. Let’s get started!

Serves 4 

For the Sauce:
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 75g sweet peppers, finely chopped 
• 50g sausage meat or one sausage, minced
• 1-2 leaves of cavolo nero, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Fresh basil, roughly chopped
• 500g passata
• 1 chicken stock cube
• 300ml water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Pigs in Blanket:
• 200g sausage meat 
• 20g Parmesan cheese, grated 
• Streaky smoked bacon strips (enough to wrap the sausages) 
• Olive oil (for greasing) 
• Cannelloni tubes
 

For Baking:
•Additional leaves of cavolo nero, torn 
• Fresh basil, torn
• Additional Parmesan cheese, grated  
• Optional: small dollops of ricotta cheese

Using Tefal Ingenio Set

Prepare the sauce

In a large saucepan, sweat down the finely chopped onion over medium heat until translucent.

Add the sweet peppers and cook for another 2-3 minutes until softened.

Add the minced sausage meat and cook until browned.

Stir in the finely chopped cavolo nero and minced garlic, cooking until the garlic is fragrant.

Sprinkle in the dried oregano and add the fresh basil. 

Pour in the passata, then dissolve the chicken stock cube in 300ml of water and add to the pan.

Stir in the sugar and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer the sauce for 5-10 minutes, ensuring the liquid doesn’t reduce too much. 

Prepare the Pigs in Blankets: 

In a bowl, mix 200g of sausage meat with 20g of grated Parmesan. 

Roll the mixture into sausage shapes that are thin enough to fit inside the cannelloni tubes. 

Wrap each sausage shape with a strip of streaky smoked bacon. 

Lightly brush the inside of each cannelloni tube with olive oil.

Insert the wrapped sausage into each cannelloni tube using your hands. 

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). 

Place the filled cannelloni tubes into the saucepan with the sauce, ensuring they are submerged. 

Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe baking dish, ideally one with removable handles. 

Tear 1-2 leaves of cavolo nero and some fresh basil over the top of the dish. 

Bake in the oven for around 30 minutes. Halfway through, use tongs to flip the cannelloni to keep them submerged in the sauce. 

Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. 

Serve with additional fresh basil, grated Parmesan, and optional small dollops of ricotta cheese. 

Enjoy this delicious and festive twist on traditional pasta! 

As soon as your Pigs in Blankets Pasta is beautifully baked and ready to serve, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before digging in. To enhance its flavours even further, serve it with additional fresh basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, and optional dollops of creamy ricotta cheese on top.

Aidan’s Top Tips: “Save on washing up by presenting your dinner in style – serve this delectable pasta dish directly from Tefal cookware that you used for cooking. Once everyone has enjoyed their meal, store any leftovers by popping a lid on your Tefal pan and refrigerating it for fresh next-day indulgence!” 

This holiday season, let Tefal be your culinary partner in creating unforgettable moments around the dinner table. With our Pigs in Blankets Pasta recipe and other festive treats waiting to be discovered, you can explore new flavours, techniques, and traditions. Don’t forget to check out our Christmas brochure for more mouthwatering recipes that will make this holiday season truly special.

You can purchase you’re very own Tefal Ingenio set to recreate this recipe, here!