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 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.
Beef Tongue Tacos
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 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
📖 Recipe
Barbacoa Lengua Tacos (Beef Tongue)
Ingredients
- 1 beef tongue (2-3 pounds)
- ¼ of medium size onion
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt to taste
- Water enough to cover the beef tongue
TO SERVE:
- warm corn tortillas
- 1 cup of chopped cilantro
- 1 cup of chopped white onion
- salsa of your choice.
Instructions
- 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.
- Remove the Beef tongue from the crock pot and place in a large dish, remove 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.
- Shred the meat using 2 forks and place in a serving bowl with some of the cooking broth that has already been degrease and strained.
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.
Joseph
Hi!
I have a large pressure cooker. Would it be ok to do 4 at once? I only se recipes for 1 at a time.
Mely Martínez
Hello Joseph,
Yes, you can cook them if they fit.
Angel
Easily one of my favorites!
Teresa
Hi! Where do I find the recipe for the yummy looking green sauce? Lengua tacos are my favorite and I'd love to try them like this!
Mely Martínez
Hello Teresa,
Here is the link to the recipe for the Salsa Verde.https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/salsa-verde-recipe/
Elizabeth
I made this tonight 7/29/22 and OMG let me tell you it turned out amazing 😍🔥🚒 everyone in the house devoured it 🤣 .I didn't have the bay leaves so I substituted it with basil and oregano, loved the taste of all the flavors
Sylvia Casiano
Hello, so I may need some help on making my Lengua, should I put crock pot on high or low if cooking over night?
Mely Martínez
Hello Sylvia,
Set your slow cooker to low.
Lauren
Hey Mely,
I have a huge cow tongue that i cant wait to use on this recipe! I have never cooked with cow tongue before and was wondering if i need to peel off the outer layer? And when I’m making the barbacoa how long would i wait to peel off the skin of the tongue?
Mely Martínez
Hello Lauren,
Yes, you need to peel it after cooking. Check the instructions in step 2.
Cooking times could vary depending on the size of the beef tongue. Maybe sure you cook it until the meat is very tender.
Mom of 6
I try to get my beef from the local farmers at the farmer's market here in Indiana. A friend was talking about beef tongue, and it tasting like roast. Well, at the time, I was pretty grossed out because of the image I had seen of a beef tongue on display at our butcher, when I was little. Me being an African American, beef tongue is not commonly eaten, only "soul food", which I do not do for health reasons. I've ventured out into other meats like buffalo, bison and lamb. For some reason I couldn't get the beef tongue out of my head, so I ordered it, and will be cooking this next week. Since I'm feeling quite adventurous I think I will try your recipe.
AD
I loved this! What a gem. Can I use the cooking liquid for something else after completing the recipe? A beef broth for a different soup?
Mely Martínez
Hello,
Yes, of course, you can use that leftover broth on soups.
Carl
Super easy! One of the best for sure.
Rhonda Smart
I purchased a tongue yesterday. I LIVE FOR LENGUA TACOS! So yummy! I live alone, and the tongue was already frozen, so I had the butcher cut it in half. Now I fear, it won't cook right and will be ruined.
I planned on making it according to your recipe.
It was VERY SPENDY....$30!.
CAB YOU HELP THIS GRINGA?
Mely Martínez
You can cook just half, or cook the whole piece, and freeze the rest to enjoy later on.
Diana
Yes, it's very rich & delicious but also very fatty.
Mely Martínez
Hello Diana,
You have to remove the fat and separate the meat.