温拌腰花 Spicy Kidney Mix

Pinyin: wēn bàn yāo huā

Every year more than 15,000 people receive kidney transplants in the USA from a mix of living and deceased donors. The first kidney transplant was successfully performed in 1950. Today the kidney is one of the easiest organs to transplant and the live donation procedure is relatively free of complications.

Humans have two kidneys located on the left and right side of the spine fairly low in the abdomen. Male kidneys are slightly larger than a females and the left kidney is generally larger than the right. Kidneys secrete hormones, play a significant role in the regulation of blood pressure, and remove waste from the body in the form of urine.

Unfortunately, pig kidneys cannot be transplanted into humans, so many of them end up in rendering plants and are turned into fertilizers or fuels. However, some pig kidneys are eaten as offal by cultures throughout the world even though they are high in purines which may increase the risk of gout.

Pig kidneys are commonly eaten throughout all of China. This dish comes from a restaurant specializing in Xi’an food (located in northwest China). There is a lot going on in this dish. From the picture you can see cloud ear mushrooms, red peppers, onions, green peppers, and of course kidney. Like many Chinese dishes garlic and ginger were both used along with soy sauce, sugar and salt.

The dish is spicy and the mixture of ingredients produces a great flavor. The food had a chance to absorb the sweet and savory sauce while cooking, and now the sauce can fade away and let the food shine. Kidney has a unique shape that reminds me of a sea anemone and a unique texture that reminds me of the squeaky feeling of cheese curd. As for the taste of kidney I am reminded of liver but a more mild and less gamey version while the shape allows it to pick up pleasant flavors from the sauce.

Chinese food can be delicious and it can also be bizarre. This dish is both. Sometimes it is worth while to go out on a limb and try something out of the ordinary. Many people may be turned off just by the thought of eating kidney, but try to overcome those preconceived and often warrantless judgements until you’ve had the opportunity to try for yourself. Remember eating should be fun and adventurous and sometimes even a little bizarre, so what are you waiting for, get out there and try it.