In its raw form, this product does not cause appetite, but rather a feeling of disgust. The appearance of the brain is very specific, but the taste, according to reviews, is gentle and pleasant. Real gourmets prefer to consume them both in pure form and with various side dishes. In our article, we consider the benefits and harms, calorie content and composition of beef brains, tell you how to choose and store them correctly. Well, to make sure the excellent taste of this offal, below we present the best recipes for its preparation.
Calorie content and nutritional value of the product
Beef brains are considered a delicacy. In cooking, they are valued for their delicate taste and high nutritional value. Beef brains have long been fed to the celebratory table of the nobility, and today everyone can afford them. But before proceeding with their preparation, it is necessary to find out what their benefits and harms are.
The protein content in beef brains is 11.8 g, and fats - 8.5 g. Carbohydrates in this by-product are practically absent - only 0.7 g. But almost 80 g of the whole composition is water. The calorie content of this delicacy in its raw form does not exceed 127 kcal per 100 grams.
Beef brains contain unsaturated fatty acids (3.2 g) and cholesterol (1950 mg). Due to its high fat content, this product cannot be called dietary. It is not recommended to include it in your diet more than once a week. Serving the brain is recommended with fresh vegetables and herbs.
Vitamin and mineral composition
Like most offal, beef brains are very healthy. They have an almost complete set of vitamins, trace elements and macrocells necessary for the body. This composition helps to improve the condition of the skin and blood vessels, stabilize the work of the heart. In addition to potassium and magnesium, the brain contains sodium, sulfur, iodine, iron and phosphorus. The latter mineral satisfies the daily norm by more than 40%.
This by-product contains a sufficient amount of useful vitamins: B1, B2, B4, D, E, PP. A high amount of the last vitamin can satisfy the daily need for it by 29%.
The benefits and harms of beef brains are completely determined by their composition. And even despite the high content of vitamins and minerals, this product should be consumed in a strictly limited volume, due to the incredible amount of cholesterol.
The benefits and harms of beef brains for the body
Meat offal is a valuable source of protein and other substances necessary for the body, while they have virtually no contraindications. And to make sure of this, it is necessary to consider in more detail what good and harm beef bone marrow is doing to the body. Let's start in order.
The benefits of beef brains are as follows:
- normalize the thyroid gland;
- strengthens the heart muscle and stabilizes the cardiovascular system;
- stimulate cell growth, providing rejuvenation of the body;
- have an analgesic effect on the body with migraines;
- improve digestion;
- contribute to the acceleration of blood circulation;
- improve brain function;
- have a positive effect on the condition of the skin and hair.
This offal is indicated for people with heart failure, malfunctioning of the thyroid gland and problems of the gastrointestinal tract.
However, as noted above, beef brains should be consumed in small quantities, as a delicacy. Otherwise, this product will only bring harm to the body. The fact is that beef brains are poorly digested, oversaturated with cholesterol and, compared with meat, have insufficiently high amounts of protein.
Contraindications
Despite the low calorie content, beef brains cannot be classified as diet foods. They are rich in heavy fats, which are not well absorbed by the body.
It should be distinguished the category of consumers for whom the use of this by-product will bring harm and not benefit. Beef brains should not be eaten by people of advanced age, as well as people who have high cholesterol in the blood, patients with gout, atherosclerosis, diathesis, and also having problems with joints.
How to choose and store?
Beef brains are used all over the world to cook various dishes. They are boiled, fried, baked in the oven. The by-product does not require long-term heat treatment and cooks quickly enough. And in order to really get benefits from beef brains, and harm to eliminate, you need to know how to choose and store this product correctly.
High-quality beef brains have a dense texture, without blood clots. Their shell should be holistic, cream or light gray. There is no characteristic odor in the offal. Fresh brains are recommended to be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days. To get exceptional benefits from a dish, they should be cooked immediately after purchase. In the freezer, beef brains are stored for up to four months. For defrosting, they should be refrigerated for several hours before cooking.
Cooking features
A delicacy such as beef brains is cooked quickly enough, literally within 15-20 minutes. But before heat treatment, they must be properly prepared: soak, clean and remove blood. It will be useful to find out what this product can bring to the body benefit and harm.
Features of the preparation of beef brains are as follows:
- Before cooking, the product should be carefully processed: soak in cold water for at least two hours, remembering to periodically change it, and then cleanse any bones and blood remaining after cutting.
- Brains need to be cooked whole so that they do not fall apart, and after cooling, cut them into pieces of the desired size.
- Beef brains have a mild, even fresh taste. Boil offal will help to improve it in a strong broth. Carrot, celery root or parsley, aromatic spices (bay leaf, allspice and others) are necessarily added to the water.
- In order to keep the fried brains white during the heat treatment, it is recommended to grease them with lemon juice or vinegar before cooking.
How to cook beef brains?
Regardless of the method of preparation of the offal, the process of its preparation will always be the same:
- Beef brains clear of films and soak in water for 1 hour. After that, it needs to be drained and replaced with a clean one.
- Soaked brains put in an enameled pan and pour water. Put here the same celery or parsley root, a whole head of onion, carrot slices, peppercorns, salt, marjoram, bay leaf.
- Bring the water in the pan to a boil and cook the beef brains for another 25 minutes over low heat.
- Put the brains with a slotted spoon on a plate and cool.
To make the dish delicious, you must follow the recipe and the rules for cooking beef brains. The benefits and harms of offal largely depend on the method of heat treatment. So, for example, brains cooked in a fragrant broth will be more useful than those cooked in a pan in a large amount of oil. Accordingly, the calorie content of the last dish will be higher.
Fried Beef Brain Recipe
To prepare the next dish, it is necessary to process the offal, soak it, cook in broth for 15 minutes and cool on a plate. After that, beef brains need to be fried, observing the following sequence of actions:
- Chilled brains cut into small pieces, put them in a plate, salt and pepper to taste.
- Break the egg into a deep bowl, beat it with a fork and salt.
- Pour a little flour into another plate.
- Pour vegetable oil into a pan and heat it.
- Roll the prepared pieces in turn first in flour, and then in the egg, then put them in a pan and fry on both sides for 5 minutes.
Before serving, it is recommended to lay the finished dish on a paper towel. Since the benefits and harms of beef brains depend on the method of their preparation, in this case the dish will turn out to be less greasy, and therefore more useful.