How to cook pork kidneys with vegetables and sour cream

According to the Chinese method, you should sprinkle the middle of the kidneys with baking soda. Just sprinkle about a teaspoon of soda in the middle and leave it for half an hour. Then we will rinse and soak them, then rinse again and soak them again. It's best if you start doing all this in the evening, continue in the morning, and let the kidneys soak in water in the refrigerator overnight. For kidneys, it's better to soak them more than less.

So, after the soda, I thoroughly rinse and soak them in cold water. The soaked kidneys stay with me for three to four hours, during which I change the water every hour or more often. They say it's better to soak them in milk, but personally I haven't tried it. In the end, I add a spoonful of vinegar (9%) to the last water, and after an hour, I start cooking them. Pour boiling water over the kidneys. Immediately, foam starts to form, which needs to be removed. Boil for a couple of minutes and pour everything out, rinse the kidneys. Again in the pot, pour boiling water again (I boil the kettle all the time). Repeat, removing the foam. About the fourth time, the foam no longer appears. Add bay leaf, celery, and peppercorns, and simmer for about an hour and a half until cooked. The kidneys significantly shrink in size.

Peel the onion and carrots. Cut the onion into feathers or semicircles, and grate the carrots on a large grater or finely chop them. Fry the onion in a pan with vegetable oil, then add the carrots and fry for another two minutes. Cut the kidneys into desired pieces and add them to the vegetables.

Mix everything and pour in the broth (I used homemade chicken broth). It should be around 200-250 grams, enough to cover the contents of the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes. While it simmers, finely dice or cube a cucumber. If you notice that the cucumber has tough skin, it's better to remove it. Add the diced pickled cucumber to the pan and simmer for another ten to fifteen minutes.

Chop parsley and mince garlic. Mix sour cream with a spoonful of flour and mustard. Add the sour cream mixture to the pan, stir, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Finally, add the herbs and garlic, mix well, adjust the taste, and turn off the heat after two minutes. Let it sit for a few more minutes to blend the flavors. This is how you can prepare pork kidneys with vegetables and sour cream. It is best served with mashed potatoes.