American Medium Mrs. F.L. Gillette

Calfs Head Boiled

Original Recipe

Put the head into boiling water and let it remain about five minutes; take it out, hold it by the ear, and with the back of the knife scrape off the hair (should it not come off easily dip the head again in boiling water.) When perfectly clean take out the eyes, cut off the ears and remove the brain, which soak for an hour in warm water. Put the head to soak in hot water a few minutes to make it look white, and then have ready a stewpan, into which lay the head; cover it with cold water and bring it gradually to boil. Remove the scum and add a little salt, which increases it and causes it to rise to the top. Simmer it very gently from two and a half to three hours, or until the bones will slip out easily, and when nearly done, boil the brains fifteen or twenty minutes; skin and chop them (not too finely), add a tablespoonful of minced parsley which has been previously scalded; also a pinch of pepper, salt; then stir into this four tablespoonfuls of melted butter; set it on the back of the range to keep it hot. When the head is done, take it up and drain very dry. Score the top and rub it over with melted butter; dredge it with flour and set it in the oven to brown. When you serve the head, have it accompanied with a gravy boat of melted butter and minced parsley.

Ingredients

grocery
  • 5 minutes
  • 1 few minutes to make it look white
  • 1 stewpan
  • 1 little salt
  • 2 and a half to three hours
  • 1 tablespoonful of minced parsley which has been previously scalded
  • 1 pinch of pepper
  • 4 tablespoonfuls of melted butter
  • 1 gravy boat of melted butter and minced parsley

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Required Gear

skillet
Stewpan

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Instructions

  1. 1

    Put the head into boiling water and let it remain about five minutes; take it out, hold it by the ear, and with the back of the knife scrape off the hair (should it not come off easily dip the head again in boiling water.) When perfectly clean take out the eyes, cut off the ears and remove the brain, which soak for an hour in warm water.

  2. 2

    Put the head to soak in hot water a few minutes to make it look white, and then have ready a stewpan, into which lay the head; cover it with cold water and bring it gradually to boil.

  3. 3

    Remove the scum and add a little salt, which increases it and causes it to rise to the top.

  4. 4

    Simmer it very gently from two and a half to three hours, or until the bones will slip out easily, and when nearly done, boil the brains fifteen or twenty minutes; skin and chop them (not too finely), add a tablespoonful of minced parsley which has been previously scalded; also a pinch of pepper, salt; then stir into this four tablespoonfuls of melted butter; set it on the back of the range to keep it hot.

  5. 5

    When the head is done, take it up and drain very dry.

  6. 6

    Score the top and rub it over with melted butter; dredge it with flour and set it in the oven to brown.

  7. 7

    When you serve the head, have it accompanied with a gravy boat of melted butter and minced parsley.

Sources & Citations

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