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"Criadillas" AKA: Rocky Mountain Oysters or Potatoes?

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We’re crazy for criadillas! There are two types of criadillas in Spain, one is flora and one is fauna. Let’s start with the fauna first. Spanish bulls are known for their fierceness in the ring and their testicles are fantastic when done up in the fryer! Affectionately known in the USA as “bull’s balls” or “rocky mountain oysters”, in Spain criadillas, also called huevos de toro (“bull’s eggs”), are a delicacy, albeit an unusual one. They are rumoured to give the male that consumes them superior performance in the bedroom!  Fortunately this delicacy is first removed from the bull at slaughter and later pounded, floured, spiced and fried and finally end up as an hors d’oeuvre with a perfect cocktail sauce to compliment.

They share the same name.

The second type is a Peruvian potato variety affectionately called criadillas that made it’s way to Europe in the 1500’s!  Spain is known the world over for it’s numerous varieties of potatoes. This fact probably, at least partially, explains why five of the world’s top ten chefs are to be found in Spain. The spuds known as criadillas are no stranger to the cuisine-conscious Spaniards and have an amazing texture which is used as a foundation for several meat and fish dishes. They are versatile, creamy and coveted amongst the European haute cuisine crowd.

 

Chef Luis Mora’s Autumn Roast Lamb, Wild Mushrooms & Potatoes

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Ingredients:

Tell your Butcher to prepare 800g – 1 Kilo Milk fed baby lamb de-boned & split open like a book

  • 150 g  Extremaduran Potatoes called Criadillas ( Galician or Peruvian potatoes can substitute )
  • 150 g  sweet spring onions
  • 100 g  leeks
  • 1 dozen small Boletus mushrooms
  • 5 or more  fresh garlic cloves
  • Thyme & Rosemary
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1 D.L.  Jerez white Sherry wine

Procedures:

Preheat oven  210  degrees centigrade or 425 degrees fahrenheit

  1. Put the lamb bones which the butcher separated, spring onions chopped finely and the Jérez in a saucepan on low to medium flame
  2. Place the lamb roast in a large roasting pan
  3. Mince the sweet  spring onion & the leek
  4. With a sharp small knife, make 1 inch deep slits in the lamb
  5. Stuff the lamb with the leek, spring onion, minced garlic and finely chopped Boletus mushrooms
  6. Rub or brush  olive oil on the lamb roast top and underside
  7. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, rosemary & thyme
  8. Peel and slice the potatoes in 1” ovals & place the lamb on top of the tubers

These potatoes are going to serve as the foundation bed for the lamb

Reduce the sauce and cover.  Baste lamb and add a little more Sherry & Water to pan.