As a food blogger, have a lot of pictures stored on my external hard drive waiting to be published. Like these pictures, they have been sleeping there for more than 2 years. I went in search of them after reading an article in a cooking forum about how cooking beef tongue is becoming a trend among Chefs in upscale restaurants across America.
Beef tongue may be found at local Asian markets, Mexican markets, or ordered by your local butcher.
How to make Beef Tongue Barbacoa Tacos
NOTES:
- When buying the meat make sure it is coming from a trusted source. Since not a lot people buy this type of cut very often, chances are you will find it frozen. I am lucky to have a Grass Fed source and the quality can’t compare to the one found at regular supermarkets from my personal experience. Beef tongue is still very affordable; buy it in a place that you trust for their quality.
- Cooking time using an INSTANT POT, prepare as directed and cook for 45 minutes in the pressure setting.
- For the Stove Top pressure cooker, cook for 1 hour.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Rinse the beef tongue with water and place in your crockpot, add onion, garlic, bay leaf, salt, and water. Cover and set the crockpot on low for 8 hours. Cook until tender. If after 8 hours the meat is not tender enough to shred cook a little bit longer. Not all Crockpots work alike.
2. Remove the Beef tongue from the crockpot and place in a large dish, remove the skin using a knife to make a cut at first and discard. Trim off any fatty tissue at the bottom end. As you can see from the pictures above it is mostly meat. 3. Shred the meat using 2 forks and place in a serving bowl with some of the cooking broth that has already been decreased and strained.
The way we serve it at home is buffet style with the tortillas, chopped onion, cilantro, salsa, some lime wedges, and salt. Let everyone prepare their own tacos.
¡Buen provecho! Mely
Beef Tongue Barbacoa Tacos
I decided it was about time to get them out before this humble low-cost delicacy that is usually eaten in a taco in so many places of my country becomes a forbidden fruit. I mean in case this trend picks up and the price goes up. In Mexico, we also serve them in stews, where the cooked meat is sliced and then slowly simmered with different types of sauces. But that is another story. This recipe is super easy, no rocket science here.
This recipe is using the Crockpot; it is a good idea to do it overnight and have your barbacoa ready for breakfast, especially on Sundays, like we do in northern Mexico. If you do not have a crockpot, cook in a large pot on your stove for about 2 ½ to 3 hours. This will depend also on the size of the beef tongue. A faster way will be using the pressure cooker and cook for 30 minutes after the valve starts whistling.
If you have never tried Beef tongue, this is the easy way to go. The texture is soft that almost melts in your mouth. The leftovers if any, are great for sandwiches, flautas, scramble with eggs, etc. It also freezes well.
How to cook beef tongue, how to peel beef tongue
FAQ
What type of meat is lingua?
What does lengua taste like to eat?
What animal is lengua meat?
What cut of meat is cow tongue?
What makes Lengua different from other cuts of meat?
Due to its muscle composition, the texture of lengua is different from other cuts of meat. As you take a bite, you will experience the springiness that sets lengua apart from other meats. This springy texture can be attributed to the densely packed muscle fibers that make up the tongue.
What does Lengua taste like?
In Mexican cuisine, lengua is a popular dish made from beef tongue. You might find it served in various forms, such as tacos de lengua, which consists of chopped tongue placed in a corn tortilla, topped with onions, cilantro, and a choice of salsa. The taste of lengua is similar to that of other cuts of beef, with a tender and smooth texture.
What does Lengua mean?
Lengua, Spanish for “tongue,” is the tongue of a beef cow. Lengua is a tough cut—if you’ve ever seen a cow use its long, dextrous tongue to pull a tuft of grass or a clump of hay into its mouth, you’ll understand why.
What do Mexicans eat with lengua?
Another popular Mexican dish featuring lengua is the “guisado de lengua,” which is a stew made with slow-cooked tongue, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. The Spanish enjoy lengua in a different manner, typically in the form of “lengua a la vinagreta,” which involves boiling the tongue and serving it cold, dressed in a tangy vinaigrette.