This neglected organ of cattle contains 20 times more natural iron than meat.

This is an organ of the animal that is often neglected during the popularity of liver or gizzard during sacrifice. However, this organ is very nutritious and is much more nutritious than ordinary meat or many vegetable foods.

In particular, it contains a lot of heme iron, essential B-vitamins and some special beneficial peptides. We commonly call it Tilli or Maytya Kolija. In English, it is called Spleen.

Extraordinary nutritional value

100 grams of cooked beef spleen usually contains—

Heme iron: About 39–45 mg of iron, making it one of the richest natural sources of iron in the world.

Vitamin B12: Can meet more than 200 percent of the daily requirement.

Vitamin C: About 50 mg, which is more than half of the daily requirement. This amount of vitamin C is very rare in ordinary meat. However, cooking at high temperatures destroys vitamin C.

Trace minerals: Rich in copper, phosphorus, selenium and zinc.

Protein: About 18–25 grams of high-quality and easily digestible protein.

How does it compare to ordinary food?

1. Compared to ordinary meat

Although steak or chicken breast meat has good protein, spleen is far ahead in terms of micronutrients.

Where 100 grams of beef steak contains about 2–3 milligrams of iron, the same amount of spleen contains more than 40 milligrams of iron, which is at least 20 times more than meat.

2. Compared to vegetable foods

Vegetable foods like spinach or lentils contain non-heme iron, which the body can absorb in very small amounts. But the heme iron in beef spleen can be easily absorbed by the body. As a result, a small amount of spleen is able to meet the daily iron requirement several times.

3. Compared to other organ meats

Although liver is famous for vitamin A, spleen is especially known for its high levels of vitamin B12 and vitamin C. While both are good sources of iron and zinc, spleen is considered one of the best natural sources for helping to make blood cells.

Health Benefits

Helps reduce anemia and fatigue

The combination of heme iron and vitamin B12 is effective in eliminating anemia, increasing hemoglobin, and reducing chronic fatigue.

Boosts immunity

The bioactive peptides in spleen—such as tuftsin—help increase the function of white blood cells.

Improves brain function

High levels of vitamin B12 and niacin help maintain good memory, nerve health, and mental performance.

How to eat it?

For those who are used to eating regular meat, spleen may have a slightly irony taste and soft texture. In various countries, it is used in slow-cooked stews, mixed with minced meat. In Italy, it is also eaten by making fritelle (spleen pancakes). Spleen sandwiches are also very popular.