Sweetbread Casserole
Submitted by plynlit66
Tender sweetbreads nestled in a velvety cream sauce with mushrooms and water chestnuts, topped with golden breadcrumbs and cheese. A classic offal casserole that turns humble organ meat into an elegant dinner.
YIELD
4 servingsPREP
60 minCOOK
20 minREADY
80 minIf you’ve never cooked sweetbreads before, this casserole is the place to start.
Precooked sweetbreads get folded into a silky double-boiler sauce built on butter, flour, and chicken broth, then enriched with eggs and cream.
Sliced mushrooms and water chestnuts add earthy depth and satisfying crunch, while a breadcrumb-and-cheese topping bakes into a crispy golden crust.
The result is old-school elegance with zero fuss.
Chef Tips
- Soak sweetbreads in cold water for at least 25 minutes before cooking to draw out impurities and ensure a clean, mild flavor.
- Peel the membrane while the sweetbreads are still slightly warm from simmering. It pulls away much more easily.
- Stir the egg-cream mixture constantly when returning it to the double boiler. Walk away and you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in sauce.
- Prep sweetbreads in bulk and freeze them for future recipes. They thaw beautifully and save you serious time on busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Directions
Melt the butter in the top of a double boiler, add the flour, mix carefully, and pour in the stock slowly.
Add the chestnuts, parsley, mushrooms, and seasonings.
When the sauce has thickened, beat together the eggs and the cream, pour the sauce into the egg mixture, and return to the double boiler.
Stir constantly until thick, mix in the sweetbreads, and pour into a buttered casserole.
Mix the breadcrumbs and cheese and sprinkle over the casserole.
Bake in a 275 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
To Prepare Sweetbreads: Soak in cold water for 25 to 30 minutes.
Remove the membranes and simmer in water for 15 minutes - to each quart of water add 2 thin slices of lemon and 1 teaspoon of salt.
Cool and use in any recipe calling for sweetbreads.
These precooked sweetbreads may be prepared in quantity and frozen.
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