Sweetbreads With Crab Capers And Lemon Food

SWEETBREADS WITH CRAB, CAPERS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Soak sweetbreads in cold water to cover in the refrigerator for several hours, changing water frequently. Drain.
• Put sweetbreads in a saucepan or kettle, and add water to cover, wine, onions, celery, carrots, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil, and cook 5 minutes.
• Put sweetbreads in one layer on a rack. Cover with a second rack and add weights. Let stand until cool, at least 2 hours. Chill.
• Pick over sweetbreads, and remove membranes, filaments or tendons. Cut each sweetbread into thin slices, each about 1/4 inch thick.
• Sprinkle slices on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge slices in flour, and shake off excess.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet, and add a quarter of the sweetbread slices. Cook the slices about 1 minute per side. When cooked, pour off excess butter. Heat another tablespoon butter, and cook another quarter of the sweetbread slices, continuing until all sweetbreads are cooked. Wipe out skillet.
• Add 2 tablespoons butter to skillet and add capers. Cook, stirring, about 30 seconds.
• Spoon equal portions of capers over each serving of sweetbreads. Sprinkle each serving with the juice of one lemon half.
• Heat remaining 4 tablespoons butter, and add mustard and paprika. When mixture bubbles, add crab meat. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
• Spoon equal amounts of crab mixture over each serving of sweetbreads. Dip the rim of each lemon slice in chopped parsley. Garnish each serving with 4 lemon slices.

SWEETBREADS

Steps:

• Tear the sweetbread apart into 1 inch sections. Discard the stringy ligaments that hold it together. Rinse with water as you go. Dip the slightly wet sweetbreads into flour.
• Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a large heavy skillet. Fry the sweetbreads in the hot oil until golden brown, turning once. Remove from oil, and drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

CRAB BALLS WITH LEMON-CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• For Lemon-Caper Sauce; Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl to blend.
• Chill until cold.
• (Can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.).
• For Crab Balls: Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick spray.
• Whisk mayonnaise, eggs, mustard and Worcestershire in large bowl to blend.
• Gently mix in crabmeat and ground crackers.
• Place on prepared baking sheets.
• (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover, chill.).
• Preheat broiler.
• Broil crab balls until brown and cooked through, watching closely to avoid burning and turning once, about 5 minutes.
• Serve with sauce.