Lungs Anyone?

Does this look hideous? It's lungs. Beef lungs. One of my favorite dishes to pick at the the nasi campur stall.

I was compelled to cook my own paru goreng (fried lungs) after seeing this recipe on Azie Kitchen. 

First mission. Buy lungs. But where? Well, at my favorite Jaya Grocer of course. These are available frozen and I bought a packet.

When the lung was defrosted, I took it out from the packaging and washed it. It is soft and spongy and so so red. It had to be boiled first together with ginger and lemongrass (to cut the smell) until tender. 

Once cooked, the lung is sliced and deep fried till crispy. Then you make the rempah which is just pounded shallots, garlic and ginger.

The pounded ingredients are then sauteed with chili paste till aromatic and then the fried lungs are tossed with the spice paste. I may have been a bit stingy on the rempah and next time, I will make more.

This is a dish which is pleasing to the tongue but not so pleasing to the eyes. Look at it. All black and not delicious looking. But I love it.

Sure, it's kinda tedious to cook, what with the boiling, slicing and deep frying and all. Not something I would cook every often but one that I would consider a treat when I do.

Paru Goreng Pedas (Fried Spicy Lungs)

Recipe source : Adapted from Azie Kitchen

Ingredients :

- 400g beef lungs 

-1 stalk lemongrass, bruised

- 1 slice ginger

- 1 yellow onion, sliced

- 1 tbsp chili paste

- 2 tsp asam jawa juice (tamarind juice)

- salt to taste

Spice paste (pounded)

- 1 big onion

- 4 cloves garlic

Method :

1.  Boil lungs with lemongrass and ginger (I forgot and just boiled lungs it by itself) for about 45 minutes or until tender.

2. Once cooled, slice thinly and deep fry until crispy. Set aside.

3. Heat oil and saute the blended spice paste until aromatic.

4. Add chili paste and continue to saute until slightly dry.

5. Add asam jawa juice, salt and sliced onions.

6. Add the fried lungs and toss to coat.