Sweetbreads

The term sweetbreads refers to the thymus gland and the pancreas of young animals, particularly veal and lamb. The thymus gland shrinks as the animal ages, which is why you will not see beef or mutton sweetbreads on a menu. The thymus gland extends from the throat down to the chest of the animal. The part of the gland nearest the heart is the most prized for its shape and size. An average veal sweetbread weighs 14 to 21 oz (400 to 600 g). Lamb sweetbreads are much smaller and, therefore, don’t offer as many preparation choices as the larger glands.