Rocky Mountain Oysters. No bull!

[Passadumkeg]

I just got done watching Adam Richman eating Rockie Mountain Oysters in Denver, and have seen them on other cooking shows. They are huge. I have been eating them for about 35 years, but they were always from castrated (by moi) calves and were the size of marbles. Surely the flavor must differ from these little pups to the scrotti of the big studs. Has anyone eaten both and can offer a flavor comparison?

[horseshoe]

I can get them 3 to a package for about 3 bucks. They are about the size of a medium potato. Skin them, cut into 1/4 in. slices dredge in flour then buttermilk the flour again. Cream gravy on the side..Hispanic markets will sometimes have them. The regular stores don't.

[justanotherpenguin]

haven't had them, but know where you can get them:

http://www.exoticmeatmarket.com/index...

[Dirty Ernie]

justan...

That 's a ridculously very cool site. Was that Tony- the-Tiger in the lead spot on the menu? Hate to think that I would be chewing on his package!

[Passadumkeg]

Thanks, I know I can get them locally, if I only ask.

[mamachef]

Well Pdk, if you ever decide to only ask, I have a friend who slices, then pickles them in leftover jalapeno brine, dredges them in egg wash and chile-spiked cornmeal/flour (1:1) and fries happily away. He generally serves 'em up with a sour-cream and horseradish dip. I only ever heard about them for years because they were a staple at his poker nights to which I was uninvited, but then I beat him in an unrelated game of Texas Hold 'em and instead of the boring old money he wanted to give me, I wangled an invite to the game and came away with this recipe, and is it ever good.

[Passadumkeg]

Yum!

[mamachef]

And that's no bulls****

[ospreycove]

MamaChef, Your recipe sounds great....It is in my "to try" file!!!

[Veggo]

ospreycove, you can buy them fresh at the Bravo market in Bradenton, unless you have a closer source.

[ospreycove]

Veggo,
Bravo is a great Hispanic Supermarket, as you must know; we shop there almost every other week. It is the closest place that carries Goat meat in the butcher shop.
Thanks for the info.

[Veggo]

Acapulco Tropical also carries goat. Frozen, but they have a band saw so you don't have to buy a whole leg. I have them do 2 inch cubes that are good for braising and then Jamaican curry.

[ospreycove]

Thanks, I know where Acapulco Tropicale is, and it always looks busy based on the # of cars. I have not been there I guess it is time to check it out!!

[Veggo]

That's where I get my chicharron delgado the size of a ladies hat. Their rotisserie chickens come with 1/2 kilo of just-made warm tortillas, but the chickens are smaller than they used to be. They have frozen quail and octopus and their produce is less expensive than the "gringo" markets. They have an eat-in section but it doesn't ring my bell. Overall, worth checking out.

[FoodFuser]

I've had them in restaurants just a few times, but never have cooked them at home.

I'd think that since cowboys snip those spheres the first year,
the diameter would be rather small on those balls.

But I will admit I'm a mere incognoscenti when it comes to the cut and the fry of the scroti.

[tracylee]

The Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant is where they're served in Denver. It's very near the light rail tracks that we used to take to my sister's place. We've never gotten around to eating there, and she moved to a different part of town this last year.

[Passadumkeg]

That's where I saw 'em on M vs F.

[tracylee]

I thought so... I've watched most of the re-runs of M vs F on Netflix.

Here in Oregon, we always referred to Sheep "parts" as Rocky Mountain Oysters. Not that I've tried them from either animal.

[Veggo]

They are available in a few places around the front range, but the Buckhorn Exchange is sort of special, with unusual game meat, wall decor, and the first liquor license issued in Colorado. Excellent elk and quail combo, and piano on the mezzanine.

[Perilagu Khan]

Terroir is the key. Size doesn't matter.

[Veggo]

PK: tip of the day - don't put "size doesn't matter" on your facebook page
Passa - the ones in my hispanic market are from more mature animals, about the size and shape of small Idaho potatoes. A "package" of 3 is a bit over a pound @ $10/lb, surprisingly high for organ meat and for this market.
Typical cooking process is to slice into 1/4 medallions, drag through a seasoned flour mix, and pan fry. I recall a resto in Colorado that battered and deep fried the medallions. How were they prepared in the program you watched, and how did you cook and serve the 'lil fellas?

[Passadumkeg]

It's not how long ya make it, but how ya make it long, as every good chef knows. Sliced in medallions, floured and deep fried. From the deep recesses of my Stoli soaked brain, I remember that I have partaken of the larger variety, in Bolivia at a churrasco. In true poetic justice, they were served on a platter accompanied by grilled cow's udder. Utterly delicious, gave a rise to my taste buds.
Here, in NM, the little guys' jewels are simply floured and fried.

[Perilagu Khan]

Soccoro Scallops, they call 'em. Or Albuquerque Abalone. Or Clovis Clams.

[Veggo]

And for those too timid to sample them, "the jewel of denial".

[Perilagu Khan]

Or the Clampett Fambly Jewels.

[c oliver]

I've only ever cooked the small ones when my neighbor castrated his calves. I removed the two membranes, left them whole, floured, sauteed and made a little white wine sauce. Very good.

[mucho gordo]

Floured and deep fried is the only way I've ever seen them. Absolutely delicious. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a restaurant that serves 'em here in So Cal.

[Passadumkeg]

So Cal? The bulls have tofu ones!

[mucho gordo]

None of that tofu s#$% for me! The real deal or nuthin'.

[c oliver]

If you deep fry them, I doubt you could tell the difference. RMOs are so mild in flavor. Just sayin'.

[mucho gordo]

True, they are mild but I like to think I'd notice the difference. It's like Crab vs. Krab. can't you tell fake crab from the real stuff? It would be the same thing with the 'oysters'; primarily taste and texture.

[c oliver]

Yeah, I was exaggerating a smidge. I just wouldn't deep fry them.

[mucho gordo]

May I ask why?

[c oliver]

Both the texture and the flavor are such that I think deep frying would overwhelm both. And having prepared them a couple of times "fresh" from the animal, they were quite a bit of work. I'd cook them in a minimal way (that's not a good word but can't think of what I'd substitute).

[Passadumkeg]

What a tease!

[Veggo]

nevermind

[mucho gordo]

The ones I had were deep fried, but lightly; they were not crisp on the outside. If you didn't know better, you'd think you were eating McNuggets. The delicate flavor was there and the texture smooth, not chewy. The restaurant that served them is located in an area where cattle ranches proliferate and the people had the knowhow to prepare them properly.

[c oliver]

Sounds great. I've only done them floured and pan "fried"/sauteed and then a wine sauce. I miss having my rancher neighbors.

[mucho gordo]

Wine sauce sounds great. Mine had no sauce at all, but they weren't dry.

[mamachef]

The spunky little small guys (no pun intended) had the flavor and texture of a very fine veal liver, whereas the pendulous baseball-sized spheres were flops at my table. More like a veiny, old cow's liver.

[Passadumkeg]

Yup, my opinion, xactly.

[c oliver]

What I can't figure out is why many of the big uns are even available in any quantity. Why would a rancher NOT castrate all his male calves?

[Passadumkeg]

Incentive. Ranchers want aggressive rodeo bulls.

[c oliver]

Hard to believe there are enough (dead) post-rodeo bulls to create a market but that makes sense. Maybe those are the ones who didn't make the cut :)

[Eldon Kreider]

Don't forget about former breeding bulls. Granted that the supply has been drastically reduced by the almost universal use of artificial insemination for dairy cows.

Bull meat used to be very cheap and was widely used in strong-flavored sausages, hence the category baloney bulls. The Vienna all-beef hot dogs that are so popular in Chicago get some of their distinctive flavor from a fair fraction of bull meat. They formerly used bull meat exclusively but have not been able to get enough for some years and now use less than half bull meat.

One large Hispanic market near me consistently has bull-sized testicles for sale. They also have beef penises, but they could come from steers.

[hill food]

I've only had the large walnut -size (no pun intended) ones, while I liked 'em I don't know if I'd want to try the larger ones.