SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (2024)

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Sweetbreads is the meat of the hour. These smooth and tender veal bites are a-must-to-try at least once in your life! Today I present you a simple recipe to taste them; breaded in a crunchy crust in delicious contrast with their soft texture. Try it on; if you like chicken nuggets, you will love Sweetbreads!


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SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (2)

  • 1 Lb veal sweetbreads
  • 10 oz (280 g) clarified butter
  • 1 egg
  • 8 tbsp flour
  • 8 tbsp Panko
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 sprig sage
  • to taste table salt

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (3)

WHAT ARE SWEETBREADS?

Sweetbreads is one of the meat cut most prized by Chefs and gourmets in the last years! But what exactly are Sweetbreads? They are the thymus of young animals. Particularly appreciated are the sweetbreads of lamb and veal.

The origin of the term “Sweetbreads”, seems to originate by the sweetness and tenderness of this organ.

The texture of this cut is incredibly soft and moist, and the taste is creamy and delicate. Even if you are not a fan of offal, you want to try them once in your life!

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (4)

SWEETBREADS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CUISINE

As I said, Sweetbreads are involved in the culinary renaissance of the offal, but their use in the kitchen of several countries is popular since a long time.

In France, they are served sauteed with mushrooms, or as an ingredient of meat cassolets. An interesting French recipe lightly fried them paired with seared scallops.

Italian cuisine has plenty of recipes with this delicious meat, called Animelle in Italian. In Rome, Animelle are sauteed in butter and sage. They are fried or grilled as well and paired with artichokes, or Cauliflower puree, or Milanese Risotto.

In the Southern cuisine of US, Sweetbreads are battered and fried, or baked with Vermouth sauce.

Finally, In Argentina, they are called Mollejas and served as an appetizer of the Parilla, the traditional Argentinean Barbeque.

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (5)

FRIED SWEETBREADS RECIPE

First, soak the Sweetbreads into a bowl along with a mixture composed by 2 cups of white vinegar and 4 Qt of cold water. If the meat is well treated by your butcher 3 hours of soaking are enough. Store the bowl in the fridge and change the liquid mixture every 1.5 hours. The meat is ready when there is not any trace of blood.

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (6)

BLANCHING

Pour 4 Qt of water and 2 cups of white vinegar into a pot. When the sweetbreads are ready, poach them in boiling water for 5 mins, then drain and soak in iced water. As soon as possible, clean the meat discarding fats, and membrane, and any other sinewy parts. Eventually, place the meat in a colander under a bowl, and store in the fridge.

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (7)

BREADING

Pour the flour, and the Panko separated into two different bowls. Crack the egg and beat it lightly in another bowl. Now, cover a piece of meat with the flour and shake to discard the powder in excess. After that, soak the floured meat quickly into the beaten egg, and finally, bread with Panko. Repeat for any piece of veal.

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (8)

FRYING

Now, melt the butter in a saucepan. When the butter reach about 320° F (160 ° C), fry the breaded Sweetbreads. Keep the temperature of the butter around 300° F (150° C). Pour the butter over the meat with a spoon frequently, and cook about 20 minutes flipping occasionally the nuggets, until perfectly done.

Once ready, season them with a drizzle of lemon juice, and salt as needed. Serve as soon as possible very hot, paired with your preferred sauces and fresh greens.

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SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (9)

SAUSAGE SKEWERS with baby potatoes and blue cheese

PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RECIPE

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SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style

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Prep time

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Author: Filippo Trapella - philosokitchen.com

Recipe type: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 Lb veal sweetbreads
  • 10 oz (280 g) clarified butter
  • 1 egg
  • 8 tbsp flour
  • 8 tbsp Panko
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 sprig sage
  • to taste table salt

Instructions

  1. FRIED SWEETBREADS RECIPE
    First, soak the Sweetbreads into a bowl along with a mixture composed by 2 cups of white vinegar and 4 Qt of cold water. If the meat is well treated by your butcher 3 hours of soaking are enough. Store the bowl in the fridge and change the liquid mixture every 1.5 hours. The meat is ready when there is not any trace of blood.
  2. BLANCHING
    Pour 4 Qt of water and 2 cups of white vinegar into a pot. When the sweetbreads are ready, poach them in boiling water for 5 mins, then drain and soak in iced water. As soon as possible, clean the meat discarding fats, and membrane, and any other sinewy parts. Eventually, place the meat in a colander under a bowl, and store in the fridge.
  3. BREADING
    Pour the flour, and the Panko separated into two different bowls. Crack the egg and beat it lightly in another bowl. Now, cover a piece of meat with the flour and shake to discard the powder in excess. After that, soak the floured meat quickly into the beaten egg, and finally, bread with Panko. Repeat for any piece of veal.
  4. FRYING
    Now, melt the butter in a saucepan. When the butter reach about 320° F (160 ° C), fry the breaded Sweetbreads. Keep the temperature of the butter around 300° F (150° C). Pour the butter over the meat with a spoon frequently, and cook about 20 minutes flipping occasionally the nuggets, until perfectly done.
    Once ready, season them with a drizzle of lemon juice, and salt as needed. Serve as soon as possible very hot, paired with your preferred sauces and fresh greens.

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (11)

SWEETBREADS RECIPE breaded and fried Italian style (2024)

FAQs

What is sweetbreads italian? ›

[ˈswiːtˌbrɛdz ] plural noun. animelle fpl. Copyright © by HarperCollins Publishers.

What are the two types of sweetbreads? ›

According to the Larousse Gastronomique, sweetbread is "the culinary term for the thymus gland (in the throat) and the pancreas (near the stomach) in calves, lambs and pigs." Larousse further states that thymus sweetbreads are "elongated and irregular in shape" while pancreas sweetbreads are "larger and rounded."

How should sweetbreads be cooked? ›

Add 1 tablespoon of salt, a pinch of pepper and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Sweetbreads should be about medium when they are done poaching. Using a slotted spoon transfer sweetbreads to an ice water bath to cool quickly.

Why do you soak sweetbreads in milk? ›

Soak sweetbreads in milk to help get rid of the irony, gamey flavor common to most offal meats, then blanch them for a firmer texture. Fry sweetbreads to make them more palatable if you're new to offal meats. Grill sweetbreads for a more authentic flavor.

What is the English name for sweetbreads? ›

Sweetbread is a culinary name for the thymus (also called throat, gullet, or neck sweetbread) or pancreas (also called stomach, belly or heart sweetbread), typically from calf (French: ris de veau) or lamb (ris d'agneau).

What organ is the sweetbreads? ›

sweetbread, type of offal, or variety meat, deriving from the thymus or pancreas of a young animal (such as a calf or lamb) and prepared as food, though the term is often casually used for an assortment of organ meats and glands eaten as delicacies.

What are the best sweetbreads? ›

Because of their shape, sweetbreads from the pancreas gland are also called heart sweetbread. The younger the animal, the more delicate the flavor and texture, and the lighter color of the sweetbreads. Connoisseurs view the sweetbreads of milk-fed veal or young calves as the best.

Are sweetbreads good to eat? ›

Sweetbreads are delicious and provide beneficial nutrients like Vitamin B-6 and potassium. Just treat sweetbreads like any other fatty cut of meat, and as long as you buy organic, grass-fed options and eat them in moderation, they can be a great addition to your diet.

What do sweetbreads taste like? ›

Sweetbreads, though mild in flavor, have an offal-reminiscent flavor somewhat akin to brain. People often describe the texture as "tender" and "creamy"; I would add "marginally juicy." Sweetbreads are made from an animal's pancreas and thymus glands (called the "heart sweetbread" and "throat sweetbread," respectively).

Can you overcook sweetbreads? ›

But if you can get over the ew factor, sweetbreads are versatile: They're easily fried, roasted, braised, sauteéd, or grilled. They are also, blessedly, nearly impossible to overcook.

Are sweetbreads expensive? ›

Price $7.00/lb. Approximate price per package is $7 each.

Are sweetbreads balls? ›

Sweetbreads are subject to much confusion, and are often mistakenly believed to be the testicl*s of an animal. In fact, they're two separate glands - the thymus gland (from the throat) and the pancreas gland (from the heart or stomach) that are taken from calves or lambs.

Do you have to boil sweetbreads? ›

Blanch. After the soaking, sweetbreads are blanched in boiling water and then shocked in ice water to firm up the flesh, though they shouldn't be all the way cooked through.

What are Texas sweetbreads? ›

of a true South Texas barbecue. These are the. thymus glands of the cow and when cooks to. perfection are absolutely delicious 🔥 #barbecue.

What pairs with sweetbreads? ›

A Burgundy Chardonnay would be a delightful pairing with Veal Sweetbreads. This wine, made from Chardonnay grapes in the Burgundy region of France, is known for its balance of fruitiness and acidity, with flavors of apple, pear, and citrus.

What kind of meat is sweetbreads? ›

Sweetbreads are considered offal, which is the broad term for the organ meats and other parts of the animal leftover after butchering. The easiest sweetbreads to find are from veal, ris de veau; or lamb, ris d'agneau, although beef and pork sweetbreads are also available.

What are sweetbreads and why are they called that? ›

The name refers to two glands usually harvested from calves or lambs: the thymus, near the throat, and the pancreas, near the stomach. Both glands have a mild mineral flavor, luxuriously soft texture, and distinct subtle sweetness, which food historians suggest is the origin of their more romantic name.

What is the difference between sweetbread and sweetmeat? ›

> Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. Here in New Zealand, a Mince Pie is a pie containing mince meat. The type of mince pie you're talking about is called a Christmas Mince Pie or a Fruit Mince Pie.

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