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The testicles of calves, lambs, roosters,
turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
s, and other animals are eaten in many parts of the world, often under euphemistic culinary names.
Testicle A testicle or testis ( testes) is the gonad in all male bilaterians, including humans, and is Homology (biology), homologous to the ovary in females. Its primary functions are the production of sperm and the secretion of Androgen, androgens, p ...
s are a by-product of the
castration Castration is any action, surgery, surgical, chemical substance, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses use of the testicles: the male gonad. Surgical castration is bilateral orchiectomy (excision of both testicles), while chemical cas ...
of young animals raised for meat, so they were originally a late-spring seasonal specialty, though nowadays they are generally available year-round.


Cookery

Testicles are cooked in a variety of ways: sautéed and sauced, fricasseed, deep-fried with
breading Breadcrumbs are a culinary ingredient consisting of flour or crumbled bread of varying dryness, sometimes with seasonings added. They are used for a variety of purposes, including breading or crumbing foods before frying (such as breaded cut ...
or batter, in pies, poached, roasted, and so on. Before cooking, they are generally scalded, skinned, and soaked in cold water.Prosper Montagné, Larousse Gastronomique, 1938


Names

In English, testicles are known by a wide variety of euphemisms, including ''stones'', ''
Rocky Mountain oysters Rocky Mountain oysters or mountain oysters, or meat balls, also known as prairie oysters in Canada (), is a dish made of bull Testicles as food, testicles. The organs are often deep-fried after being skinned, coated in flour, pepper and salt, an ...
'', and ''
prairie Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the ...
oysters''. Lamb testicles are often called '' lamb fries'' or simply ''fries'' (though that may also refer to other
organ meats Offal (), also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the internal organs of a butchered animal. Offal may also refer to the by-products of milled grains, such as corn or wheat. Some cultures strongly consider offal consumption to be ...
). Euphemisms are used in many other languages. In Arabic countries such as
Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
,
Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
and
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
they are known as and in
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
they are known as , which in both languages mean . In some Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, they are known as , ; in Chinese they are known as ; in Greek as ; in Hindi as ; and in Nepali as . The French terms (from , ), or , the Italian , and the Spanish and Latin American began as euphemisms, but have become standard culinary names.


World variants


Canada

Known as ''prairie oysters'' in Canada, they are normally served deep-fried and breaded, with a demi-glace. The dish is especially popular in parts of
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
where
cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...
ranching is prevalent, and castration of young male animals is common.


France

Sheep and beef testicles are part of
French cuisine French cuisine is the cooking traditions and practices of France. In the 14th century, Guillaume Tirel, a Court (royal), court chef known as "Taillevent", wrote ''Le Viandier'', one of the earliest recipe collections of medieval France. In ...
. They can be grilled and served ''à la meunière'' (with butter, lemon and parsley) and sometimes with white wine and garlic. They are also commonly served breaded and fried.


Middle East (Levant)

In Jordan and Syria, (or sheep testicles) are grilled and served with lemon juice and parsley.


United States

In the United States, bull testicles are usually served breaded and deep-fried as an appetizer, under the name '' Rocky Mountain oysters''.


Spain

Buffalo, boar or bulls' testicles, known as , are breaded and fried. In , a speciality from
Granada Granada ( ; ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada (Spain), Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence ...
, lambs' brains and testicles are cooked in an omelette.


Japan

Whale testicles, called () or (), are considered a delicacy in Japan and are generally eaten boiled. An extensive number of whale tissues are eaten, which includes the intestines,
sex organ A sex organ, also known as a reproductive organ, is a part of an organism that is involved in sexual reproduction. Sex organs constitute the primary sex characteristics of an organism. Sex organs are responsible for producing and transporting ...
s, and other
offal Offal (), also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the internal organ (anatomy), organs of a butchered animal. Offal may also refer to the by-products of Milling (grinding), milled grains, such as corn or wheat. Some cultures strong ...
.


Vietnam

Bulls' testicles are commonly called . It is a very common food as it is believed to increase men's sexual ability.


Mongolia

After gelding a colt, the testicles are used for ritual purposes. One of the amputated testicles is punctured with a knife so as to permit the insertion of a rope; the rope is then fastened to the new gelding's tail with the assumption that once the testicle has dried, the wound will have finished healing. The remaining testicle is cooked in the hearth ashes and eaten by the head of the household to acquire the strength of the stallion.


United Kingdom

Lamb testicles were historically eaten in England where they were referred to as ''fries'' or ''stones''. As the name suggests, they were usually fried in butter after being coated in breadcrumbs. However, they are no longer widely eaten and are not available in supermarkets, although they are sold in some Asian and Middle Eastern butchers and other shops.


Iran

Lamb testicles in Iran are called (), a white, fleshy mushroom used as a euphemism. Lamb testicles are consumed mostly as home-cooked meals rather than in restaurants as they are considered makrooh (discouraged) according to Islamic laws, but there are restaurants where lamb testicles are available. In Iran, lamb testicles are mainly skewered and grilled; however, in some areas they are shallow-fried and served with bread.


India

The practice of boiling goat testicles in water and reducing the water with repeated additions of sesame is common in India. VeershimhavaLokam, an ancient Hindu Ayurvedic Text Ayurvedic texts describe it as a potent drug among other herbal ayurvedic formulations when discussing treating injury to genital organs. Goat and bull testicles have been consumed prior to the Muslim conquests in India. Commentaries of the Ashvemedha Yagna, a part of the Rigveda Somayajis tradition, describe consuming horse's entrails including intestines and scrotum along with soma. There is some controversy about the commentaries, particularly related to orgy, and thus authenticity of the practice can be contested. Goat and cow testicles are highly priced in modern India, up to five times the rung cut/prime cut; however, testicles are not a mainstream delicacy, and are mostly sold as street food. Some tribes offer goat testicles to their guests, such as male lamb genitalia soup, a popular Andhra dish.


See also

* Hasma * Milt *
Offal Offal (), also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the internal organ (anatomy), organs of a butchered animal. Offal may also refer to the by-products of Milling (grinding), milled grains, such as corn or wheat. Some cultures strong ...
*
Rocky Mountain oysters Rocky Mountain oysters or mountain oysters, or meat balls, also known as prairie oysters in Canada (), is a dish made of bull Testicles as food, testicles. The organs are often deep-fried after being skinned, coated in flour, pepper and salt, an ...
* Soup Number Five * Testicle Festival


References


External links

{{Commonscat-inline, Testicles (meat), lcfirst=yes Offal Testicle Types of food