Rocky Mountain oysters. Cowboy caviar. Prairie oysters. Despite its many deceptively dainty monikers, this dish doesn’t come from the ocean. No, these “oysters” come from the underside of a bull. InAmerican West and Western Canada, repurposing castrated bulls’ testicl*s has made for legendary snacking. Most eaters enjoy their testicl*s battered, fried, and served with a side of ketchup, co*cktail sauce, hot sauce, or mayonnaise.
The oysters come from a necessary process in the cattle industry, as castrating bulls is important for controlling the bovine population as well as curbing aggressive behavior. Because some cattle owners wait to see if they would like to breed their animals, bull testicl*s come in a variety of sizes. Cooks tend to slice bigger balls before frying, while the smaller ones can be battered and fried whole. Those who’ve enjoyed Rocky Mountain oysters describe them as having a texture akin to calamari, with a light gamey flavor halfway between chicken and venison.
Whether the recipe arose from a waste-not-want-not sensibility, or an early cowboy practical joke, communities embrace their landlocked “oysters” with pride. One Montana cookbook from the early 20th century offers 74 recipes for cooking the organs. testicl* festivals, or “Testy Fests,” featuring Rocky Mountain oysters also abound. With cheeky themes such as “Legends of the Ball,” “The Original Sack Lunch,” and “Nuttin’ Better,” attendees can enjoy all-you-can eat “oysters” or watch testicl*-eating competitions.
Another reliable way to find the prepared testicl*s is at Coors Field, in Denver, Colorado, where Rockies’ games consistently offer the snack. Or, nearby at Wynkoop Brewery, find the Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout, a beer brewed with two BPB (i.e. balls-per-barrel).
FAQs
Rocky Mountain oysters or mountain oysters, or meat balls, also known as prairie oysters in Canada (French: animelles), is a dish made of bull testicl*s. The organs are often deep-fried after being skinned, coated in flour, pepper and salt, and sometimes pounded flat. The dish is most often served as an appetizer.
What is cowboy caviar bull testicl*s? ›
Typically served as an appetizer, the dish consists of skinned bull testicl*s coated in flour and deep-fried. These Rocky Mountain Oysters, also referred to as “cowboy caviar,” “dusted nuts,” and “Montana tendergroins,” are usually served at large fairs, ranching events, or restaurants and bars.
What are bulls testicl*s called in cooking? ›
Buffalo, boar or bulls' testicl*s known as criadillas are breaded and fried; In tortilla Sacromonte, a speciality from Granada, lambs' brains and testicl*s are cooked in an omelette.
What is the euphemism for bull testicl*s? ›
And for the gastronomic risk takers, mountain oysters, the euphemism for bull testicl*s.
How big do bull testicl*s get? ›
Beef bulls two years old and over vary in scrotal circumference from 26 to 48 cm. The variations in testicular size, by age, for Brahman cross bulls in the Top End and the Victoria River District are shown in Figure 1.
Are bull testicl*s chewy? ›
The first thing to keep in mind when cooking and eating mountain oysters is that beef testicl*s taste nothing like beef. To say testicl*s “taste like chicken,” doesn't do them justice either even though fried beef testicl*s are chewy like a good chicken nugget and have a slight undertone of chicken liver.
Are sweetbreads the testicl*s? ›
Sweetbreads are subject to much confusion, and are often mistakenly believed to be the testicl*s of an animal. In fact, they're two separate glands - the thymus gland (from the throat) and the pancreas gland (from the heart or stomach) that are taken from calves or lambs.
Are bull testicl*s good for testosterone? ›
Although a healthy diet may not increase your testosterone production, a bad diet and weight gain can disrupt it. ²⁴ Don't pay too much head to fad foods touted as testosterone boosters. According to Dr. Diamandis, only one food is definitively a natural testosterone booster, at least temporarily: animal testicl*s.
What is Spanish bull testicl* food? ›
Criadillas directly translates to testicl*s in Spanish, and the dish is naturally some animal's balls. Although it can be from any beast, bull's testicl*s are usually the criadillas of choice as some believe that eating them will boost masculinity.
What is the vulgar word for testicl*s? ›
balls (taboo, slang) nuts (taboo, slang) bollocks or ballocks (taboo, slang) rocks (US, taboo, slang) family jewels (slang)
The most popular – or at least most infamous – oysters in Colorado are harvested from the scrotums of bulls. Rocky Mountain oysters are bull testicl*s.
What is the medieval slang for testicl*s? ›
Bollocks (/ˈbɒləks/) is a word of Middle English origin meaning "testicl*s".
What are bull testi*cals called? ›
testicl*s also known as Rocky Mountain Oysters, Bull fries, Cowboy Caviar, Prairie Oysters, Swinging Sirloin, and Calf Fries. Rocky Mountains Oysters are true delicacies of the American West. When you serve Rocky Mountain Oysters at your next gathering, all your guests are guaranteed to have fun.
Are sweetbread testicl*s? ›
Sweetbreads are subject to much confusion, and are often mistakenly believed to be the testicl*s of an animal. In fact, they're two separate glands - the thymus gland (from the throat) and the pancreas gland (from the heart or stomach) that are taken from calves or lambs.
What is the Spanish name for bull's testicl*s? ›
Criadillas directly translates to testicl*s in Spanish, and the dish is naturally some animal's balls. Although it can be from any beast, bull's testicl*s are usually the criadillas of choice as some believe that eating them will boost masculinity.
What are deep-fried sheep balls? ›
Lamb fries are lamb testicl*s used as food. Historically they were parboiled, cut in half, and seasoned. Lamb testicl*s are served in a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Basque, breaded and fried in some barbecue restaurants, Chinese, Caucasian, Persian and Iranian Armenian (called donbalan), and Turkish.
