Beef Pancreas

[Jan Virtanen]

I just picked my meats from my local organic farm, they included me with some beef pancreas and

lamb lungs. What would be the best culinary application. Especially the pancreas.

I am nose to tail eater but no clue how i just prepare this strange looking organ.

Any tips?

Edited December 18, 2011 by Jan Virtanen (log)

[Dakki]

I think the pancreas (and thymus) are called "sweetbreads," while the lungs are called "lights."

For the sweetbreads, you can clean, blanch, press, butterfly, coat in a thin layer of flour and panfry in a little butter. Dice and fry again and it's one of my favorite taco fillings.

I've eaten lights but I've never made them at home.

[Keith_W]

For sweetbreads:

- remove all gristle and soak in water for a few hours to purge all blood.

- blanch the sweetbreads by starting in cold water. Once the water has reached a rolling boil, remove and shock in ice water. The purpose of this step is to disgorge more blood.

- dry the sweetbreads thoroughly then press for a few hours in the fridge to get rid of excess water. This will firm up the sweetbreads and concentrate the flavour.

Now prepare the sweetbreads as you like. Breadcrumbs, flour, simply panfried ... it's up to you Just remember it is very rich, and a deceptively small serving size will fill you up very quickly.

[Mikels]

Strictly speaking, only the thymus is called sweetbreads. But, since the pancreas is similar, it is usually sold as sweetbreads. I like to blanch it, take the membrane off, cut them up and make a very rich stew with mushrooms. I haven't made them in years.

Only had lungs once in a heart and lung stew.

[djyee100]

I've eaten sweetbreads in a mushroom-Madeira sauce & they were great. I didn't cook them myself, though, I ate the sweetbreads at a local restaurant. The dish was like this recipe:

http://events.nytimes.com/recipes/2198/1987/03/11/Sweetbreads-With-Madeira-Sauce/recipe.html

[Jan Virtanen]

Would it be a good idea to sous vide the pancreas? Should i still poach and shock it?