Sweetbreads Explained: What They Are, How to Cook Them & Where to Buy
Despite their name, sweetbreads are not sweet and are not made of bread. Rather, they are a type of animal meat, which often leaves consumers confused when they find them on their plates.
Although you might be a bit put off by the idea of sweetbreads, there is a reason they are considered a premium dish around the world. Keep reading to learn more about sweetbreads and how you can prepare them at home.
What Are Sweetbreads?
Sweetbreads vary in their exact composition, but in general, they are used to describe internal organ meats from an animal, usually cows or sheep. Sweetbreads are typically harvested from young animals, and are more common to find at locations where veal and lamb are sold.
What Part of the Animal Are Sweetbreads?
As mentioned above, the exact composition of sweetbreads can vary. However, they are often sorted into two categories: neck/head and heart.
Neck/head sweetbreads are exactly what they sound like, and they are composed of the organs found in the neck and head of an animal, anything from the animal’s brain to its tongue.
Heart sweetbreads are a bit more difficult to classify because they often don’t just contain the heart. Rather, they contain any and all organs found near the heart of the animal, such as the heart, lungs, pancreas, liver, and more.
It is important to note that sweetbreads are never made from the testicles of an animal. We aren’t sure exactly where this rumor came from, but sweetbreads are only ever made from the organs near the heart or in the head of an animal.
What Do Sweetbreads Taste Like?
Sweetbreads are known to be extremely tender, with an irresistible mild and creamy sweet taste, hence the name. Although the taste can vary depending on the preparation style, the flavor is sought after by food critics around the world. So, if you can get past the off-putting origin of sweetbreads, we definitely recommend giving them a try!
According to food critics, the best sweetbreads are those that come from milk-fed veal calves as they have the creamiest taste and texture.
Are Sweetbreads Healthy?
Despite some common misconceptions, sweetbreads are some of the healthiest parts of an animal to consume. The organs of the body are often packed with vitamins and minerals in higher amounts than the meat itself and can contain essential nutrients the body craves.
When you consume sweetbreads, you consume the following vitamins:
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Vitamin C
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Potassium
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Iron
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Magnesium
While sweetbreads can be an important part of a healthy diet, it is also important to note that they contain a high amount of purines, so they can put stress on the body’s kidney’s when consumed too frequently. They can also increase the symptoms of gout, so those with the condition should avoid eating sweetbreads.
How to Prepare Sweetbreads?
Sweetbreads can be a bit difficult to prepare, which is one of the reasons they are considered a delicacy. Below are the steps to properly prepare sweetbreads.
1. Soak
The most important part of consuming sweetbreads is ensuring they are soaked before cooking. Because sweetbreads are made from organ meat, they must come from a safe source and remain chilled prior to soaking.
Soaking will remove any impurities and blood clots. During the soaking process, many chefs replace the water with milk or buttermilk to help increase the flavor of the final product.
2. Blanch
After completing the soak, its best to blanch the sweetbreads to toughen up the meat, otherwise the organs may fall apart during the cooking process. Blanch the sweetbreads by placing them in boiling water for a few minutes before tossing them into an ice bath.
3. Trim
After blanching, trim away any remaining gristle you see on the outside of the organ meats. A good butcher should remove most of this during the butchering process, but large chain grocery stores may not be as precise.
4. Cook
Now that you have soaked, blanched, and trimmed your sweetbreads, they are ready to be cooked following your preferences. Sweetbreads can be grilled, baked, or even breaded and fried—whatever suits your fancy. Be cautious not to overcook your sweetbreads, as they will become tough with too much cooking.
5. Serve
Once your sweetbreads are fully cooked, we recommend serving them with an acidic dipping sauce such as lemon juice or a hot Chinese mustard if you decide to fry yours.
What to Serve With Sweetbreads
Sweetbreads are tasty, but they are also, well, small. So, they won’t be a meal on their own. We recommend serving sweetbreads as a decadent side or appetizer for the following dishes:
Honestly, sweetbreads fit well with just about any meat dish. While we recommended mostly veal-based dishes here, sweetbreads can also go well with chicken, goose, duck, and beef dishes.
Remember to set out the sweetbreads with an acidic sauce of some sort, no matter how you prepare it!
Who Eats Sweetbreads?
Although it isn’t as common to consume sweetbreads in the United States, they are considered a delicacy around the world. Individuals in Germany, France, Asia, and much of South America regularly consume sweetbreads. We aren’t sure why it fell out of favor in the United States, but we hope it will become more popular once again because sweetbreads are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals!
Where to Buy Sweetbreads?
It is important that if you want to try sweetbreads, you acquire them from a good source. This will ensure that you receive the maximum benefits from consuming organ meats. While some grocery stores carry sweetbreads, we recommend shopping for them from a local butcher.
If there is no local butcher near you, then Kolikof Caviar and Gourmet is here to help. With a wide range of premium meat products, they also carry organic sweetbreads and a number of cooking supplies to make your food experiment a success! So don’t delay and shop at Kolikof’s today!