This easy kidney recipe with calf's kidney makes a delicious and nutrient dense meal. It is very satiating and perfectly suited for low carb diets. In addition, kidneys have a great offering of folate, iron, zinc, copper & selenium and are also a great source of protein for a post-workout meal.
First, cut the kidneys in half and remove the gristly white centers (the fat) carefully
It is best to use a paring knife for this. Remove as much of it as possible and keep it if you want to make tallow - more details in the recipe notes
After that, cut the kidney meat into bite sized pieces and put them into a strainer. When finished, thoroughly rinse them with cold water for a few minutes
Now, add the salt to a big bowl, add some water and stir until the salt is dissolved. Then, add the kidney pieces and so much cold water that they are completely covered
Cover the bowl with cling film / plastic wrap, put it into the fridge and let the kidneys soak in water for at least 2 hours. After that, take the pieces out of the water, into a clean strainer and rinse them with fresh water again. Afterwards, let them drip off excess water for a minute
Melt the butter in a pan on low heat, add the kidney pieces and cook them for about 7 minutes while stirring occasionally.
Then, put them to the side (e.g. into a soup plate) in order to make the sauce in the pan
Sauce - Final Steps
After cooking the kidney pieces, leave any remaining liquid in the pan and add the extra butter. Then, add the sliced onions and let them cook for about 5 minutes
Next, add the cream & cream cheese to the pan and stir until it is dissolved. Cook for about 10 minutes on low heat, until the sauce starts to thicken. Now is the time to taste the sauce and add salt & pepper to your preferences
Finally, add the kidney pieces back to the pan and let them simmer in the sauce for another 3 minutes on low heat. Don't cook too long or on higher heat as the kidney tends to become chewy then
Recipe Notes
If you want to render the kidney fat cut it into small bits or mince it in a food processor.
Then, put it into a pot or big pan on low heat and wait for all the fat to get out while stirring occasionally.
You can see that it's done when there is clear fat on the bottom with crispy bits on top.
Now, you can remove these floating bits by pouring all content through a cheesecloth or fabric into another pot.
When the fat is cooled, pour it into mason jars and keep them in the fridge.
Easy Pulled Pork - Braised Pork Neck With Onion Gravy
This is my foolproof, super easy pulled pork recipe for which you don't even need a smoker or barbecue grill. It is simply a matter of searing the meat in a pot and braising it for a few hours until most of the water is evaporated. In addition to that, the onion gravy sauce that is prepared with the meat stock really tops it off.
First, melt the coconut oil in a medium-big pot on medium heat and sear the pork neck in it on each side, for about 5 minutes in total
Next, pour about 3-5 liters of water into the pot. Add enough water to cover the meat, then add about 1/3 to 1/2 of that volume of water on top. So, if you need 3 liters to cover the meat, add 1 to 1.5 liters on top
Now, add the salt, pepper & cumin and put a lid on the pot, but leave a small gap so the water is able to evaporate
Let the pork neck cook on low-medium heat for 4-5 hours until you have 400-500 milliliter of water left and the meat is tender. Then, you can turn the plate off. Make sure to flip the meat 2-3 times within the last 2 hours, if it is not completely covered with water anymore
Sauce
When the pork neck is done, melt the butter in a pan on low-medium heat. Then, add the onions and fry them for 5-10 minutes until they become golden brown
Now, add salt, pepper & -if you like- a minced garlic clove and fry everything for about 1 minute while stirring
Next, add about 400 milliliter of meat stock from the pot with the pork neck to the pan in order to deglaze the onions
Finally, let everything cook for 10-15 minutes while stirring occasionally until you have a sauce of your desired thickness. In the meantime, cover the pot containing the meat with a lid to keep it warm
Recipe Notes
The method in this recipe works with nearly any type of meat, but best with cuts that contain fat & some gristle like beef shank or ham hock.
You may also enhance the sauce by deglazing the onions with red wine and let it cook for a minute before adding the meat stock.
These scrambled eggs with chicken hearts and onion are prepared within only 30 minutes. They make an extremely nutritious, saturating and delicious meal for lunch, dinner or even breakfast.
