You’ll be mind blown by how good this easy beef kidney recipe is. It is very exciting to find organ meat recipes you actually want to eat! If you are interested in eating nose to tail carnivore diet recipes or like exploring healthy ways to add organ meats to your diet, this 3-step stovetop dish is a great way to normalize the presence of nutrient-dense foods in your home.
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An easy beef kidney recipe you have to try
Truth be told, kidney hasn’t received much attention in my nose to tail journey until a few months ago and I wish I hadn’t waited so long!
I’ve spent a good amount of time experimenting with different ways to make kidney.
From soaking to sautéing to braising to grilling, there are many different approaches to take. However, nothing can compare to the ease and simplicity of this keto carnivore kidney recipe.
These beef kidneys are more than just easy to make; they taste good too!
You might be as surprised as I was to learn this but it’s true! Without any fancy sauces or cooking technique and without trying to disguise them, kidney is right there in the open for all to enjoy.
Please tell me in the comments what you think of this dish. It’s the only way I make kidney now and feel like everyone should be talking about it! Do you love it as much as I do?
Where to buy beef kidney?
A few decades ago, kidney could still be found in most supermarkets. Unfortunately, today they are not always so easy to come across.
Ethnic grocers (think Eastern European, Russian and Mexican markets) often sell kidney as do local butchers. Ask whoever stands behind the glass display case for an order of fresh kidney. If they don’t have any at the time, you may be able to make a custom order and have them source it for you.
If you prefer to shop online, I highly recommend grass-fed beef kidneys from US Wellness. They offer grass-fed beef, bison, lamb and goat kidney.
As with most foods, seek a fresh source of the best quality you can access. Some people consume conventionally raised organ meats without any problems, however, I prefer to prioritize grass-fed organs.
How do I prepare and clean beef kidneys?
Little to no preparation is required before adding the kidney to the boiling water. Depending on how the kidney is sold to you and on your personal taste, you may or may not want to trim the central piece of fat.
My family prefers to leave on as much fat as possible. In fact, we playfully fight over the fatty bites. They are always the first pick.
To trim, use a very sharp knife and thin out the fat or remove it completely by cutting away carefully between the membranes of meat and the fat. Once removed, you will have a small piece of suet, which is prized for rendering into tallow. This cooking fat is excellent for steak, burgers and high temperature searing or frying. Save fat to cook with later.
How to Cook Beef Kidney
Cooking time may vary due to the size of kidney. I cook the average 16 ounce (454 grams) beef kidney for 8 minutes, extra-large ones may go for as long as 10 minutes. Lamb, sheep, and goat kidneys are smaller, typically I only boil them for 4 to 5 minutes or so.
Boiling beef kidney for 8 minutes cooks the outside while leaving the inside rare. For a well-done kidney, boil for as long as 12 minutes.
I recommend you stop early rather than continue longer and enjoy the tender inside. Kidney has a soft texture and flavor full when kept rare.
Most people find rare and blue rare meat digests better than medium and well done.
The more you cook kidney, the more it shrinks. As it condenses, it will become more firm. Overcooked kidney will be slightly rubbery. This texture is nothing like a tough piece of meat but you will need to chew it more and the flavor is noticeably blander.
Do you have to soak kidney before cooking?
In many recipes, it is recommended to soak the kidney in brine prior to cooking. This draws out the “kidney flavor” and mellows the taste significantly.
I would do this for grilling or pan-frying but not in this recipe where we boil.
How do you make kidney taste good?
You boil the piss out of it!
After boiling, the kidney tastes good. There is no hint of ammonia or potentially offensive smell or taste.
Maintaining a full boil is important for the entire length of cooking. Regulate temperature by adjusting the flame and setting the lid more or less cracked (open) to find the sweet spot of boiling but not boiling over.
Each stove is a little different. You will soon learn how to achieve this in your own kitchen. I cook on a medium burner and reduce the flame from high to medium-low once kidney is added. The lid gets cracks by about an inch or so after kidney is added.
The best way to serve boiled kidney
To serve, simply cut in half, medallions or bite-sized pieces. I place the kidney on a small cutting board and cut it at the table. You can just as easily use a plate. Because the fat is in the middle, each bite may be slightly different. I find it is best to serve all pieces on a platter of sorts (in my case, a cutting board) and people can pick and choose what they want, piece by piece.
You may sprinkle quality mineral salt to taste, although I tend not to use any. A few pats of cold butter on the side are very complimentary.
Kidney is best as an appetizer or side to the main entrée. A large beef kidney can easily serve up to 4 people this way.
I’m sure you see how easily this recipe may be doubled if needed. You should look for a larger pot and add more water. Cooking times remain the same.
Chop it up and serve with keto cheese sauce!
Are beef kidneys good for you?
Eating offal, also known as organ meats, is good for you in a number of ways. Beef kidney is
- an affordable source of protein and fat-soluble vitamins
- a respectful way to use all parts of an animal, leaving minimal waste
- new and novel for most people, adding a sense of excitement to cuisine
Apart from just health, there are other benefits of organ meats too!
I love using the combo of ground beef with liver, heart, and kidney premixed for me. It’s an easy way to get a great nutritional bang for your buck and super easy to add to any ground beef recipe without anyone giving it an “eww”.
Keto Organ Meat Recipes
If the above combo of ground meat and organs appeals to you, order some online or ask your butcher to make a blend for you.
The ground organ meat may be used as the main meat portion in any of these keto diet approved recipes (all are fantastic for a carnivore diet too!)
- Organ Meat Pie
- Homemade Pemmican with Organ Meats
- Beef Heart Meatballs
- Hidden Liver Meat Muffins
- Easy Cheeseburger Pie
Beef kidney nutrition
According to NutritionData beef kidneys contain significant amounts of bioavailable
- Protein
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Thiamin
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Vitamin B6 and B12
- Folate
- Pantothenic Acid
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Copper
- Selenium
Animal organs are known to be packed with nutrients! Once you know what to look for shopping and cooking is easy. Your wallet will thank you too!
Easy Beef Kidney Recipe (Keto Carnivore)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 beef kidney
- salt to taste, optional
- butter best cold, optional
Instructions
- Fill a small pot with enough water to submerge the kidney.1 beef kidney
- Cover and bring water to a boil over medium high heat.
- Reduce the heat, add kidney and leave the lid cracked to allow heat to escape.
- Boil for 8 minutes, monitor the heat so water does not boil over.
- Remove from heat. Drain water and quickly rinse kidney under cool water if desired.
- To serve, simply cut into half, medallions or bite sized pieces. Sprinkle with optional salt to taste and eat with cold butter ad libitum.salt, butter
Video
Notes
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
Take a look How to Cook Meat on a Carnivore Diet and brush up your skills with other cuts and techniques!
Kidney Recipes
Ever thought about trying something different for dinner? Get ready to discover a variety of recipes featuring kidney, a nutritious and often underused ingredient. These dishes will add a new level of flavor and variety to your meals, making dinner time more exciting and satisfying.
Yes, it was easy, but that’s all I can say for this recipe though I followed it exactly. I had organic grass-fed beef kidney. Boiling for 8 minutes gave it a weird texture, quite rubbery, my husband gagged, and the connective tissue(?) in the center was even worse. (As a comparison, we both love lightly sauteed liver.) Jacques Pepin has a recipe video for sauteed pork kidneys which I plan to adapt to beef liver for my next attempt. His first step is removing that center tissue.
Thank you for trying the recipe and sharing your feedback! I’m sorry to hear that the texture and taste of the beef kidney didn’t meet your expectations. Cooking organ meats can be a unique and challenging experience, as taste preferences can vary widely.
It sounds like you have a great plan for your next attempt by adapting Jacques Pepin’s sauteed pork kidneys recipe. Removing the center tissue might make a significant difference in the overall texture and taste. Experimenting with different methods and recipes can lead to finding what suits your palate best.
I appreciate your honesty and willingness to try new things. Remember, cooking is all about learning and adapting, so I hope your next attempt brings you a more enjoyable experience.
Can I cook it in the pressure cooker?
The cooking time is only 6-8 minutes on the stovetop. You probably can convert that time to a pressure cooker, but I’m sorry to say I don’t have any experience with that.
Wow.. Best recipe ever. Thanks for sharing the amazing content.
Thanks so much, Mary! I’m glad you liked the recipe 🙂
I’m afraid this one fell kinda flat for us. I watched the video and got all excited, and went to four different carnicerias before I found one that had beef kidneys. Brought them home and thawed them, then boiled one the next day for 8 minutes as directed. I noticed a strong ammonia smell while it was boiling, but figured that was a good thing as it meant the ammonia was leaving the organ. Took it out and cut it in half… it was just a little more rare than the video and definitely smelled like urine. I decided to try the one half and put the other half back in the pot for a couple more minutes. The first half had a not-overpowering-but-still-noticeable ammonia flavor. (A few hours later I can still taste it, and my wife won’t kiss me). The second half was milder but tougher, just like you said. But it still smelled like urine a bit, and because of that my kids wouldn’t try it.
The kidneys came in a pack of two. Any ideas I could try with the second one?
Hi Justin, sorry to hear this wasn’t a success the first time around. For the next one, I recommend soaking it in heavily salted water (1 tbsp salt per 1.5-2 cups water) for at least 20, and up to 60 minutes, before cooking. This should help draw out the ammonia smell. In my experience, it seems the fresher the meat, the less smell it has.
Jessica, Ive had steak and kidney pie before and found it good, but this is spectacular, I pulled it out and it was rare had a bite delicious put it back in to boil a coupe of minuets more came out medium still top shelf. Thank you, Cheers Joe
P.S. lb. kidney cost $3.21 canadian
Oh Wow! What a review! It’s crazy easy too, right? I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe.
Looking for honesty…how bad is the urine smell when preparing/cooking kidney?
ALSO – how long is kidney good in the freezer? I frozen some two years ago. Is it still edible?
I appreciate the question! I notice ZERO urine smell with this boiling method. TBH it’s the only way I eat kidney because it’s so easy and I never have the smell problem. I used to soak the kidney in salt water (brine) for 30 minutes before sauteing and that worked to remove the smell but never tasted as good as boiling. All my opinion of course, I’d love to hear about your experience too!
no urine smell…
I buy the my kidneys at Price Right… but anywhere where Hispanic people shop… Kidney is easy to freeze…
What I learned today is that the fat is edible… I didn’t know that. I just tested it and it’s delicious. thank you.
No urine smell, isn’t that awesome? Great tip about the Hispanic market thanks for sharing that! The fat is delicious and not to be missed. Enjoy!
I’ve been eating high fat carnivore for 5 months, and while I enjoy liver and brain, I’ve looked at kidney recipes and decided it was too much bother. I’m really not interested in recipes where I have to soak the food item all day and trim and so on. I kept reading about how nutritious kidneys were though and so I finally bought one and stuck it in the fridge for a day when I had a whole day to mess with the thing. Then I did a search for kidney recipes one last time and immediately saw yours!
Game changer time right here! Not only is this super quick and easy but it tastes sooooooo good. I really like the flavor when it is cooked this way. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Kidney has become my new favorite organ meat thanks to you! 🙂
Renee, I am DELIGHTED to hear this! What a funny adventure you had with your first kidney. I’m so glad you persevered and gave it a try! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment here in the recipe. You made my day!
Ive been eating kidney for a bit but never thought to boil. Does boiling do anything to the taste?
I think it has a very mellow taste when boiled. Boiled is my favorite way, in fact I don’t cook it by any other method.
I might just have to try this. I know it silly, but I still get squeamish about organ meats. My cat thinks it is silly of me, lol.
I actually love offal but I’m not sure I’ve ever tried kidneys…? So thanks for the recipe!
Give them a try! I bet you’ll be surprise how good they are boiled.
Thank you for this recipe and information! It’s so good to know that this healthy meat can be easily prepared!
So easy! Can you think of anything easier?
This is something I have never cooked with, but have heard great health benefits from cooking with beef kidney! I look forward to trying it!
This is quite a rare recipe to find – I can tell you that. And the amount of details makes it really easy to follow it!
I’m trying to make it more normal 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to read the recipe. I hope you try it too!
I’ve heard all about the health benefits of eating organ meats, but have never tried. Your step-by-step instructions give me confidence to try it!
This recipe is foolproof, you can do it!
We are getting a freezer load of grass fed beef soon and I am filing this away!! I had no idea what to do with the kidneys and this sounds perfect!
It will be perfect! Don’t be surprised if it is your new favorite 🙂
I have never cooked with kidney before, but this looks so easy! Definitely one to try.
It is very very easy, give it a try. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised 🙂