Best balls

[sgt_zim]

At the risk of sounding ignorant (which I am of a great many things) what are sweetbreads?

As somebody else pointed out, it's usually the pancreas, but it could be the thymus gland as well (located in the throat). I don't believe I've ever had thymus.

Pancreas is usually fairly fatty, often a higher fat content than a prime ribeye. Considering all the fat, you'd think pancreas would be tender. The texture is chewy, not far off from being as chewy as chicken gizzards.

Unlike liver, which can be off-putting with its iron-rich flavor and its crumbly texture; or kidneys which can be off-putting if the guy cooking it hasn't done a thorough job of cleaning (you can get a taste of urine if not done properly) or removing connective tissue; there is nothing off-putting about pancreas sweetbreads unless you just don't like chewy texture.

Pancreas is usually so fatty it does a really good job of picking up the flavor of whatever you're cooking it in (butter or bacon grease work best, IMO) and the herbs/spices you seasoned it with. It's a good beef flavor, so salt and pepper is all I usually add.

If you're feeling a bit daring, find a butcher shop that sells sweetbreads. You won't likely pay more than $7 or $8 for a pound. If you don't like it, you can always throw it in the garbage and be out very little money. I get mine from a butcher shop over in Rosenberg, Texas, about 10 minutes from where I live.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Maggots are high in protein. LOL

As.my daughter would have said when she still lived at home, "Ewww!"

 

[Doug Hamilton]

A good friend of mine here in GA took over his dad tradition of hosting a Wild Game Dinner among his friends. This year one of the most exotic/weird was Turkey balls. Yup, and I didn’t know Turkeys had balls. They were amazing.

View attachment 605721

I've eaten "turkey balls" but they were ground turkey meat formed into meat balls. At least that's what I was told. I hope it was true.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

If you order “mollejas” en South America it will normally be thymus gland. No one can prepare them better than an Argentinian. It is a delicacy that I cannot get enough of. A proper parrilla should have chorizo, morcilla, chinchulines and mollejas as starters.

I am not put off by any “unusual” cuisine. I think I made that clear on another thread. . However, I have never found testicles to be a particularly good dish, but more of a joke dish. Maybe I haven’t had them prepared properly.

My favorite offal that I eat regularly: heart, liver, intestines (fried or grilled), mondongo (stomach), pancreas, tongue, kidneys, morcilla (blood sausage) and mollejas (thymus gland). I think I could fill in for Andrew Zimmern.

Safe travels and stay hungry my friends!

 

[sgt_zim]

If you order “mollejas” en South America it will normally be thymus gland. No one can prepare them better than an Argentinian. It is a delicacy that I cannot get enough of. A proper parrilla should have chorizo, morcilla, chinchulines and mollejas as starters.

I am not put off by any “unusual” cuisine. I think I made that clear on another thread. . However, I have never found testicles to be a particularly good dish, but more of a joke dish. Maybe I haven’t had them prepared properly.

My favorite offal that I eat regularly: heart, liver, intestines (fried or grilled), mondongo (stomach), pancreas, tongue, kidneys, morcilla (blood sausage) and mollejas (thymus gland). I think I could fill in for Andrew Zimmern.

Safe travels and stay hungry my friends!

 

[Doug Hamilton]

As somebody else pointed out, it's usually the pancreas, but it could be the thymus gland as well (located in the throat). I don't believe I've ever had thymus.

Pancreas is usually fairly fatty, often a higher fat content than a prime ribeye. Considering all the fat, you'd think pancreas would be tender. The texture is chewy, not far off from being as chewy as chicken gizzards.

Unlike liver, which can be off-putting with its iron-rich flavor and its crumbly texture; or kidneys which can be off-putting if the guy cooking it hasn't done a thorough job of cleaning (you can get a taste of urine if not done properly) or removing connective tissue; there is nothing off-putting about pancreas sweetbreads unless you just don't like chewy texture.

Pancreas is usually so fatty it does a really good job of picking up the flavor of whatever you're cooking it in (butter or bacon grease work best, IMO) and the herbs/spices you seasoned it with. It's a good beef flavor, so salt and pepper is all I usually add.

If you're feeling a bit daring, find a butcher shop that sells sweetbreads. You won't likely pay more than $7 or $8 for a pound. If you don't like it, you can always throw it in the garbage and be out very little money. I get mine from a butcher shop over in Rosenberg, Texas, about 10 minutes from where I live.

When we lived in Napa, we used to eat in a small Basque restaurant that made the best sweetbreads, or at least the best I've eaten.

 

[Edster]

Had a conversation with my PH last month about this. In his opinion this is the only way to prepare balls. This one happens to be kudu

 

[Sideshow]

Had a conversation with my PH last month about this. In his opinion this is the only way to prepare balls. This one happens to be kuduView attachment 606234

Lol who’s the poor bugger standing behind interesting new face he has

 

[Scott CWO]

This thread reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite movies and the famous Hannibal Lector quote, “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.”

I’m with @Red Leg on this subject. I don’t eat organs and especially not the blood filter!

 

[Scott CWO]

If you order “mollejas” en South America it will normally be thymus gland. No one can prepare them better than an Argentinian. It is a delicacy that I cannot get enough of. A proper parrilla should have chorizo, morcilla, chinchulines and mollejas as starters.

I am not put off by any “unusual” cuisine. I think I made that clear on another thread. . However, I have never found testicles to be a particularly good dish, but more of a joke dish. Maybe I haven’t had them prepared properly.

My favorite offal that I eat regularly: heart, liver, intestines (fried or grilled), mondongo (stomach), pancreas, tongue, kidneys, morcilla (blood sausage) and mollejas (thymus gland). I think I could fill in for Andrew Zimmern.

Safe travels and stay hungry my friends!

Or Hannibal Lector!

 

[PCC600]

I have this recipe book. Give it a whirl. The idea of offal is off-putting to many, but most of it is way better than you imagine it to be. I'm still not a fan of calf or chicken liver, but I absolutely love venison liver.

Two organs that I find especially tasty are pancreas (sweetbreads) and spleen. Spleen has a flavor reminiscent of liver, but a much firmer texture. Heart, when prepared well, is also really good. It's all muscle, so not really an organ the way we think of organs. It can be pretty tough, but it's easy enough to tenderize it.

Nose to Tail

I’ve eaten lamb testicles as a kid on our sheep & cattle properties . Not a fan . Crumbed lamb’s brains . Not a fan . Stuffed heart . Again not a fan . But I love tripe , kidneys ,liver and tongue. I have a great English cook book put out by the “Two Fat Ladies” who had a TV show in the 1990s . There is a recipe for stuffed bull’s penis . I am yet to try it . One bull’s penis will feed 24 people .

 

[PCC600]

I’ve eaten lamb testicles as a kid on our sheep & cattle properties . Not a fan . Crumbed lamb’s brains . Not a fan . Stuffed heart . Again not a fan . But I love tripe , kidneys ,liver and tongue. I have a great English cook book put out by the “Two Fat Ladies” who had a TV show in the 1990s . There is a recipe for stuffed bull’s penis . I am yet to try it . One bull’s penis will feed 24 people .

For those who want to try Penis Stew here is the book and recipe . On a serious note the “Two Fat Ladies “ put out quite a few cook books - all with fantastic English game recipes .

 

[Khalanyoni Game Ranch]

Nothing like fresh buff balls from the veld to the braai on the same day! A true delicacy!

 

[Edster]

Lol who’s the poor bugger standing behind interesting new face he has

LOL I hadn’t noticed that That would be my grandson

 

[Sideshow]

LOL I hadn’t noticed that That would be my grandson

Yeah thought he was awfully short…..guess that makes sense now

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Speaking of throwaway parts, I ate menudo for the first time yesterday. It tasted like a sale barn smells. Wasn’t terrible.

 

[Brent in Az]

I don't eat any funky animal parts. Heart, liver, balls, kidney, tongue, and especially balls.
I grew up on a farm, and Grandma cooked that funky stuff, and it grossed me out.
Nothing but lean prime cuts for me.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I don't eat any funky animal parts. Heart, liver, balls, kidney, tongue, and especially balls.
I grew up on a farm, and Grandma cooked that funky stuff, and it grossed me out.
Nothing but lean prime cuts for me.

I've always prided myself on eating most anything anyone else will eat, but can't get around the idea of eating anything that holds shit (intestine) or piss (kidney).

 

[Graham Hunter]

I've always prided myself on eating most anything anyone else will eat, but can't get around the idea of eating anything that holds shit (intestine) or piss (kidney).

Kidneys are easy to cook. Just boil the Piss out of them!!!!

 

[Brent in Az]

I've always prided myself on eating most anything anyone else will eat, but can't get around the idea of eating anything that holds shit (intestine) or piss (kidney).

I cant get around the idea of eating anything that has been floating around in reproductive baby batter.