Deviled Kidneys Recipe - Classic British Deviled Kidneys with Venison (2024)

Home | Wild Game | Venison | Deviled Kidneys

4.85 from 13 votes

By Hank Shaw

October 17, 2019 | Updated June 06, 2022

Comment

Jump to Recipe

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Deviled Kidneys Recipe - Classic British Deviled Kidneys with Venison (2)

I know, I know, deviled kidneys. Ew, right? Actually no. If you learn one kidney recipe, and especially just one venison kidney recipe, this is it.

Allow me to explain.

So, deviled kidneys are a British thing, and I know for many of you that’s not a ringing endorsem*nt. But this dish is different. It’s a bit spicy, from a pinch of cayenne and mustard, gets a punch from Worcestershire sauce, and some backbone from sauteed mushrooms. I can almost guarantee that if you make this, you will no longer be a kidney hater.

My version of deviled kidneys owes a lot to one of my culinary inspirations: the great Chef Fergus Henderson of St. John in London. A rendition of this recipe done with lamb appears in his excellent book The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail EatingDeviled Kidneys Recipe - Classic British Deviled Kidneys with Venison (3). If only I could cook for Fergus someday…

I understand that most people don’t have lots of venison kidneys lying around, so this recipe reflects that. But if you do have, say, eight to ten kidneys, just scale up this recipe. Lamb kidneys work every bit as well. I am not a fan of beef kidneys, but pig kidneys will work if that’s what you have.

Start with obtaining kidneys. Each animal has two, and they’ll be in the gut pile. If you are buying your kidneys, you’ll likely need to order them from a butcher. Sometimes Latin and Asian markets carry them.

Once you have some, peel the gossamer membrane that surrounds the kidneys like shrink wrap. Now slice them in half, lengthwise. You’ll see a bunch of white tissue in the center. I tend to remove this with a paring knife, but it’s not strictly necessary.

What is necessary, at least to me, is to soak any animal’s kidneys in milk for a day before doing this recipe, as it makes them taste milder. And if you are a kidney rookie, you might want to rinse them off after that milk soak and submerge them in brine for another day. But you can skip all this if you want.

I am a big fan of mushrooms with kidneys—it’s a texture thing. I prefer the mighty porcini mushroom here, but any good, fresh mushroom will do, even buttons.

Serve your kidneys on excellent toast. A pale ale or even a porter would be perfect with this, as would a nice red wine.

4.85 from 13 votes

Deviled Kidneys

As I mention above, I prefer to use deer kidneys here, but lamb or pork kidneys also work well. And if you had a lot of little rabbit kidneys, they'd work, too. This dish is best served immediately after making it.

Save RecipePin RecipePrint Recipe

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: British

Servings: 4 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ pound fresh mushrooms, cut into large-ish pieces (optional)
  • 2 to 4 deer kidneys
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dry mustard, Coleman’s if you can get it
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoons chicken, venison or beef stock

Instructions

  • Clean and trim the kidneys as above. Cut each half into 3 or 4 pieces. If you are using the mushrooms, sear them in a hot pan with 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter until nicely browned on their edges. Remove them and set aside for the moment.

  • Mix the flour with the cayenne, mustard, salt, and black pepper, and dust the kidneys with it.

  • Get the pan very hot, then add 3 more tablespoons of butter. Brown the kidneys in the butter. You may need to press them down with a spatula, as they will want to arch upwards. Turn and cook another minute or two. Remove them and cut into pieces you’d like to eat.

  • Return the kidneys and the mushrooms to the pan and add a big splash of Worcestershire and the stock, and shake the pan to meld everything together. Let this cook for a minute or two.

  • Remove the kidneys and mushrooms and set them on top of your toast and boil down the sauce for a few minutes—don’t let it boil completely away—then pour it over everything and serve.

Notes

Note that the prep time doesn't include kidney soaking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 591mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 733IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Appetizers and Snacks, British, Featured, Recipe, Venison, Wild Game

You May Also Like

Mushrooms

Garlic Roasted Mushrooms

This is a simple garlic roasted mushroom recipe that works with any meaty mushroom, from porcini to shiitake to regular button mushrooms.

French

French Garlic Chicken

Classic French 40 clove garlic chicken, made with pheasant. This recipe features thighs, and works with chicken, pheasant, rabbit or partridge.

American Recipes

Corned Beef Casserole

Corned beef or venison casserole is a great use for leftovers. Add noodles, cabbage, peas, cheese and breadcrumbs and it’s a winner.

Mexican

Chacales

Chacales are roasted, dried and cracked corn typically cooked in soups. Also called chichales or chuales, it makes a great meatless soup for Lent.

About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Deviled Kidneys Recipe - Classic British Deviled Kidneys with Venison (2024)

FAQs

Should kidneys be soaked in milk before cooking? ›

If you do not want your kidneys to taste too strong, soak them in a bowl of milk for 30 minutes, then drain. To prevent the kidneys from curling up when cooking, soak in a bowl of hot water for 2-3 minutes, then rinse with cold water to refresh.

How to clean deer kidneys? ›

Slice the kidney in half lengthwise straight through the white vein. Once cut in half, you will see where the vein enters the kidney and fans out inside. Use a small, sharp knife or scissors to cut away all of the white vein from the interior of the kidney. Once trimmed you should be left only with dark kidney meat.

How long do you soak beef kidneys? ›

Cut each beef kidney half into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Fill a large bowl with cold water. Add a small amount of plain vinegar or lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Put the beef kidney pieces into the water and allow them to soak for two hours.

How do you clean beef kidneys before cooking? ›

Preparing kidneys

First, remove the excess fat or thin filament layer. Then, you can soak in cold water – one tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar and two teaspoons salt to two cups of water. This is optional and some dissuade soaking. However, it's a nice gesture to temper your own uncertainty in the beginning.

Which cooking method is best for the kidneys? ›

Sautéing is a quick way to prepare many kidney-friendly foods.

What does milk do for kidneys? ›

For healthy people, drinking low-fat cow's milk can have a protective effect on your kidneys. It can reduce your risk of chronic kidney disease and getting painful stones. However, for those diagnosed with kidney disease, the high calcium, phosphorus, and potassium levels in cow's milk can cause issues.

What does venison kidney taste like? ›

That said, kidneys can be challenging to the uninitiated. If you don't soak them long enough, they can be bitter and, well, smell and taste a little like pee. That should not deter you from keeping the kidneys from the deer you shoot every year. Properly soaked, venison kidneys are delicious and not at all off-putting.

What is the best organ meat from deer? ›

The 3 popular organ meats are liver, heart and kidney followed by eye, brains, spleen, trachea, lungs, tripe (stomach), testicl*s,etc. Pretty much most organs are edible for the adventurous. For beginners start with liver and then expand to heart and kidneys.

How do you get the blood taste out of deer meat? ›

Common soaking liquids include saltwater, milk, buttermilk, vinegar, or lemon juice. There are many hunters that swear by dairy products when it comes to removing gaminess as dairy “bleeds out” many meats, with blood being a source of gamey flavor.

What is the white stuff in beef kidney? ›

The underside of a Whole Kidney will have a patch of white-colored material incorrectly called the 'Kidney Membrane' by some but is in fact pure raw Beef Suet. Beef Suet is rich in fat-soluble bioavailable vitamins A, D, E, K, and B1.

Are beef kidneys good for you? ›

Kidney's are a great source for vitamin A, D, E, & K. Kidney's are also a great source of protein and Zinc.

What does soaking beef in salt water do? ›

The Delicious Chemistry of Brining

In other words, brined meat absorbs salty water then the salt reacts with the proteins creating little pockets that trap moisture resulting in meat that is ultra-juicy, tender, and flavorful.

What do you eat with beef kidneys? ›

Allow the kidneys to continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes per side until a nice medium doneness and pink in the middle.. Remove the cooked kidneys from the pan and let them rest several minutes before serving. Pair the devilled beef kidneys with crunchy, toasted bread, and enjoy!

How do you treat dirty kidneys? ›

Below are 8 easy ways to cleanse your kidneys
  1. Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is effective in preventing oxidative stress of the kidneys. ...
  2. Kidney Beans. ...
  3. Lemon Juice. ...
  4. Watermelon. ...
  5. Pomegranate. ...
  6. Basil. ...
  7. Dates. ...
  8. Dandelion.
Oct 11, 2017

Which side of the kidney is in the human body? ›

The positioning of the kidneys is just below the rib cage, with one on each side of the spine. The right kidney is generally slightly lower than the left kidney to make space for the liver. Each kidney is approximately 3 centimeters (cm) thick, 6 cm wide, and 12 cm long.

Why do you soak organ meat in milk? ›

Soak the liver in a dish or bowl of milk for 30-60 minutes. This is an important step in removing the bitter flavor from the liver. Salt and pepper the liver generously, and leave it out at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Pat the liver dry.

Is heat or cold better for kidneys? ›

Use heat. Place a heating pad on your back, abdomen or side to help reduce kidney pain. Take pain relievers. To ease fever or discomfort, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (unless you have known liver or kidney damage and are not supposed to use these medications).

How do you purify your kidneys? ›

Most people can keep their kidneys healthy by:
  1. drinking six to eight 8-ounce (oz) glasses of water per day.
  2. keeping sodium levels below 2,300 mg per day.
  3. eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.
  4. exercising regularly.

Is water the best way to flush kidneys? ›

It's crucial to drink enough water so that the kidneys can properly flush out any excess waste materials. This is especially important during a kidney cleanse. The recommended daily intake of fluids is roughly 3.7 liters and 2.7 liters a day for men and women, respectively, according to the Institute of Medicine.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 6357

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.