Lamb's fry explained

Lamb's fry is lamb offal served as food, including the testicles, liver, sweetbreads, heart, kidneys, and sometimes the brain and abdominal fat - or some combination thereof.[1] [2] [3]

In Australia and New Zealand, lamb's fry is specifically the liver; in the United States, "lamb fries" (q.v.) are specifically the testicles. In the United Kingdom, it was all offal, though recently testicle has become rare.[4]

History

Walker's Hibernian Magazine mentions "breakfasts of nice stew'd lamb's fry" eaten on the day of Swanhop in 1786.[5] In 1929, a Country Life cookery supplement described it as an "old Devon breakfast dish".[6] Fanny Cradock wrote that it was once popular as a breakfast dish before World War II.[7]

Preparation

Lamb's fry is typically sliced, breaded, and pan-fried, and served with bacon, onions and a gravy made with the juices. The oldest known published recipe of this type is from 1808.[8]

Popularity

"Lamb's fry and bacon" was once very popular as pub food and still relatively popular in Australia as pub counter meals and as a breakfast dish.[9] This meal is making a comeback in the form of a healthy, high iron "slow food"-type dish.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v.
  2. S.E. Nash, Cooking Craft, 3rd ed., 106
  3. M.L. Tyson, The Queen of the Kitchen: A Collection of Southern Cooking Receipts, 1886, p. 136
  4. Charles Sinclair, Dictionary of Food: International Food and Cooking Terms from A to Z, s.v.
  5. Walker's Hibernian Magazine, Or, Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge. R. Gibson. 1786.
  6. Book: County Recipes of Old England. Helen Edden. 17. Country life Limited. 1929.
  7. Book: Around Britain with Bon Viveur. Fanny Cradock. 162. J. Lehmann. 1952.
  8. Book: The Art of Cookery Made Easy and Refined. John Mollard. 173. Longman. 1808.
  9. News: Xenos Cafe and Restaurant . . 2010-08-25 . Fairfax Media . 2010-08-20 . Jacqui . Taffel.