Fiesta Lengua Tongue Recipes

MOM'S JEWISH BRAISED FRESH BEEF TONGUE

Steps:

• Boil the tongue for 2- 2 1/2 hours in a large covered pot. It should be fork tender.
• Remove with a cooking fork and put it on a large platter.
• Remove the skin with a knife. You might have to let it cool awhile before you can do this.
• On the platter, season the tongue with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and alot of paprika.
• In the same large pot that you've cleaned of all the debris from boiling the tongue, Saute the chopped onion, that you have seasoned with some of the same seasonings, until translucent.
• Put the seasoned tongue on a rack inside the same large pot and add only 1/2" of water to pot.
• Add carrots and potatoes and roast, covered, about 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
• Remove pot from oven and make sure there is enough liquid for gravy. If not, add some more water.
• Put back in 350 degree oven for another 30 minutes to brown and thoroughlly cook carrots and potatoes.
• Let stand for 15 min after cooking; then slice and serve all together, putting the gravy in a gravy boat.

LA LENGUA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large, heavy, ovenproof braising pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Sauté the onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are just translucent, about 7 minutes. Add all the remaining ingredients except tortillas and garnish, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and place in the oven. Braise the tongue until the meat is very tender and forms cracks in the surface, about 3 hours.
• Remove the tongue from the pan, discarding the other ingredients, and allow to cool. Using a paring knife, carefully peel off the skin (which should remove easily); try to leave the tongue intact. Cut the meat into 1/2-inch-thick slices and cut again into 1/3-inch-thick matchsticks (fine julienne) and place in a bowl. Serve right away or keep warm until ready to serve.
• To serve, lay the tortillas side by side, open face and overlapping on a platter. Divide the filling equally between the tortillas and top with garnish and salsa. Grab, fold, and eat right away. Or build your own taco: lay a tortilla, open face, in one hand. Spoon on some filling, top with garnish and salsa, fold, and eat right away.

SLOW COOKER LENGUA (BEEF TONGUE)

Steps:

• Place beef tongue, onion, garlic, and bay leaf in the crock of a slow cooker; generously season with salt. Pour in enough water to cover beef mixture.
• Cook on Low for 8 hours.
• Transfer beef tongue to a work surface and cool slightly. Peel outer layer of skin from beef tongue and remove rough end. Chop the meat into bite-size pieces.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir beef tongue meat until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

LENGUA (BEEF TONGUE)

Steps:

• Place the tongue, half of the chopped onion, garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons salt, and 1 jalapeno pepper into a large pot. Fill with water to cover the tongue by several inches, then bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until very tender, 3 to 4 hours. Remove the tongue from the water and allow to cool. Reserve the liquid. Once the tongue has cooled, peel off the tough outer skin, then shred the meat using two forks.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the whole tomatoes and 2 jalapeno peppers; boil until the vegetables are tender. Place the vegetables into a blender, and puree until smooth. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Once the onion has softened, stir in the shredded beef tongue and tomato salsa. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then pour in 2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid. Cook and stir until the liquid has evaporated, leaving moist, flavorful meat, about 20 minutes.

FIESTA LENGUA (TONGUE)

Steps:

• Clean and wash tongues thoroughly.
• Blanch in boiling water.
• Scrape skin with the back of a knife.
• Boil in water and vinegar for 15 minutes.
• Discard liquid.
• Add water just enough to cover and boil to remove vinegar odor.
• Add salt and bay leaf and cook until tender.
• Remove tongues and reserve stock.
• Slice into serving portions.
• Marinate for 30 minutes.
• Reserve marinade.
• Heat oil or margarine in a medium pot.
• Add onions, mushrooms and tongue and sauté about 2 minutes.
• Add tomato sauce, catsup, marinade and tongue stock.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add potatoes and red pepper.
• Stir and cook for 2 minutes.