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Opa Jacobe’s Oxtail/Kidney Stew

Actually this is the finieshed oxtail stew that was from Opa Jacobe. Next time I get a hold of some kidneys from either a lamb or a goat even though he used cow kidneys then I will again make his kidney stew and post it as an offset along with this picture. Both of Opa Jacobe’s oxtail stew and kidney stew are out of this world. I still talk about it in the present tence because I still remember them like it was yesterday. While he made these as I was watching which didn’t last long that he gave me at least a small mountian of potatoes to peel so he can cook and make these awesome mashed potatoes. The finished stews were served over the mashed potatoes.

Before you get started on either you will need My Version Of Golden Mushroom Soup recipe. Without this link there is no way these to can be made at all. You will at first need 1 lb or 1 kg of oxtails and 6 to 8 kidneys. First make the soup in the link and while that soup is cooking in the instant pot that you can take the kidneys and take the membrane and remove the white yucky part on the inside. Only the brown part gets used while the middle part gets wrapped up and tossed in to the trash can.

The golden mushroom soup doesn’t take long to make and it is under 15 minutes tops. Now the pieces of kidneys which are the brown parts get put in to a large bowl with 3 pinches of kosher salt. swish it around and add the kidneys to be cleaned and keep rinsing and draining the bloody water from the kidneys until the water turns clear. This may take up to 10 times to do. Add 3 capfuls of white vinegar to the water again and repeat the action like you did with the salt water to finish cleaning the kidneys. Rinse and drain for an additional 10 more times and the water should be clear and the kidneys looking a little paler almost like a grey color. This is a sign that there is no more blood left in these kidneys.

Next one time I made this for Mr. Riaz and I directly had the kidneys boil in to the golden mushroom soup itself. Opa Jacobe boiled his kidneys but this time I am going to fry them before I add them to the golden mushroom soup Inshallah. Just add 1 oz of sunflower oil to fry the kidneys before adding to the golden mushroom soup recipe. However with the oxtails this is not a problem that you can put it in the soup base directly and with both add !/2 bullion cube from the golden mushroom soup base recipe or 2 more pinches of vegtea seasoning additional. Mind you the soup or the stew that it is now becoming can’t be too salty.

I put 1 pinch of green peppercorns in to the soup base itself as I was cooking it and it can be any color and it is the same here I used black peppercorns here ground in mortar and pestle also and they too can be of any color. Add to the stew now forming add an additional 2 cups of water and 1 pinch each of thyme, tarragon, roasemary, savory, marjoram, lovage and savory. Now you can add the fried kidneys to the instant pot from the stovetop. It is highly recomended you fry the kidneys unseasoned on stovetop on high heat until the water dries out from them. The water seeps out while they are frying and liver does the same thing but this post is only about kidneys and oxtails.

Add 1/2 bag of frozen peas and carrots only. Opa Jacobe used these when making either oxtail or kidney stew. After putting the fried kidneys in the the nearly finished stew, close the instant pot. Set it on sealing position and pressure cook for 5 minutes and a quick release with the steam diverter on top. Repeat the same process only with the raw oxtails in the incomplete stew for 20 minutes. Place steam diverter on top and tap quick relase and stir. Repeat for another 20 minutes and then after second time the pressure releases it is ready to enjoy.
Serve these with My Grandfather’s Mashed Potatoes which truly are the bomb. I pray Opa Jacobe is happy about the way this meal had turned out. It was extremely delicious like he was still in the kitchen with me. He was born April 21, 1900 and passed away from cancer in January of 1985. It was the saddest day of my life but his recipes still live on with me. Prost!!!!! Prost is a German word for cheers.

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