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You are here: Home » Recipes » Beef

Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe

Published: Feb 18, 2013 · Updated: Aug 12, 2018 by Mely Martínez

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The flavor and texture of the beef tongue are widely praised in Mexican cuisine. It is usually cooked first in water with garlic, onion and bay leaves. Afterwards, it can be prepared in a stew with tomato sauce or served cold with a vinaigrette-like dressing.

Beef tongue used to be a cheap cut of meat a couple of years ago, but nowadays the price has risen, reserving this dish for special occasions. Some markets in Central Mexico sell beef tongue already pre-cooked, a convenience for many cooks.

Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | Lengua de Res Entomatada

Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | Receta de Lengua de Res Entomatada

This recipe is very similar to those prepared in the southern parts of the country, like in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz. There are some variations in which raisins, capers, and olives are added; still, others add local and seasonal vegetables. The star of the dish is the beef tongue, which melts in your mouth after tasting it.

Here in the USA, Tacos de Lengua are widely sold at  Taquerias in the largely Hispanic neighborhoods. You can find that recipe HERE.

How to make Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

Directions:

Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | IngredientsBeef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | Instructions step by step

  • Place the beef tongue, whole, in a large stockpot, cover with water and add the onion, garlic, black pepper, thyme, and oregano. Cook at medium-high heat for about 3 ½ hrs. until tender. If you prefer, cook in a pressure cooker for 45 minutes or in a crockpot overnight for 6 hours in low setting. Check for doneness with a fork, the meat has to be very soft but not to the point of shredding. Cool the beef tongue and remove the outside skin. Once cooled cut into slices. (Please check the ingredients list below)

Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | Instructions step by step, quick and easyBeef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | quick and easy

For the sauce:

  • Place the tomatoes and garlic clove in a blender and process until you have a fine puree. If needed, add a few tablespoon of water.
  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over a low-medium heat, add the chopped onion and sauté until slightly golden brown. Add the Jalapeño peppers slices if using.

Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | easy and with excellent resultsBeef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe | Mexican Recipes

  • Pour the tomato puree from the blender and keep cooking until you have a thick sauce; add the beef tongue broth and stir.
  • Season with salt, add the sliced beef tongue to the sauce and keep cooking for about 15 minutes more. The sauce will be slightly thick.

Server with rice or corn tortillas.

¡Buen provecho!

Mely,

Have you tried beef tongue?

📖 Recipe

Beef Tongue Recipe

Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce

Mely Martínez
There are some variations in which raisins, capers, and olives are added; still, others add local and seasonal vegetables. The star of the dish is the beef tongue, which melts in your mouth after tasting it. Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe. 
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Beef
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8
Calories 488 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 beef tongue medium size average weight 2 ½ to 3 Lbs
  • 4 quarts of water to cook the tongue
  • ½ medium size white onion
  • 8 medium-size garlic cloves peeled
  • ½ teaspoon black peppers corns
  • 1 spring fresh thyme
  • 2 Large Bay leaves
  • ½ teaspoon dry Mexican oregano salt to taste

For the tomato sauce:

  • 4 large Plum tomatoes chopped
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 Jalapeño or Serrano peppers sliced
  • 1 medium-size white onion finely chopped
  • 1 cup of the beef cooking broth
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place the beef tongue, whole, in a large stockpot, cover with water and add the onion, garlic, black pepper, thyme, and oregano. Cook over medium-high heat for about 3 ½ hrs. until tender. If you prefer, cook in a pressure cooker for 45 minutes or in a crockpot overnight for 6 hours in low setting. Check for doneness with a fork, the meat has to be very soft but not to the point of shredding. Cool the beef tongue and remove the outside skin. Once cooled cut into slices.

For the sauce:

  • Place the tomatoes and garlic clove in a blender and process until you have a fine puree. If needed, add a few tablespoon of water.
  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over a low-medium heat, add the chopped onion and sauté until slightly golden brown. Add the Jalapeño peppers slices if using.
  • Pour the tomato puree from the blender and keep cooking until you have a thick sauce; add the beef tongue broth and stir.
  • Season with salt, add the sliced beef tongue to the sauce and keep cooking for about 15 minutes more. The sauce will be slightly thick.

Server with rice or corn tortillas.

    Notes

    Cook potatoes or carrots & peas to serve (optional)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 488kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 32gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 198mgPotassium: 653mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 270IUVitamin C: 7.5mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 4.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    1. Ronald John Provencio

      July 30, 2021 at 9:55 am

      going to try this. Reminds me of mom! WI let you know how it turns out. Thank you for your wonderful recipes

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        July 30, 2021 at 1:53 pm

        Hello Roland,
        I hope you like it.

        Reply
    2. Jaime Molina

      October 27, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Mely: I'm looking for a tongue Spanish style and I have no clue where i can find out this
      I remember my mother cook that and she was from Barcelona. Vaguely i remember the tomato sauce, the capers, olives, onions
      I tried to do it, and was a disaster!!!
      if you have something can you let me know I will appreciate
      sincerely
      Jaime Molina
      Denver, Colorado, USA

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        October 27, 2020 at 6:15 pm

        Hello Jaime,
        I sent you an email with the answer.

        Reply
    3. Carole

      August 01, 2013 at 9:46 pm

      Hi there, Carole's Chatter is collecting recipes for dishes using all kinds of offal today. This is a good one. I do hope you pop over and link in. Cheers

      Reply
    4. Prieta

      May 04, 2013 at 2:14 am

      Mely, donde andas? Te extraño!

      Reply
    5. Angela Williams Duea

      March 26, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      We see beef tongue for sale often at a Latino store near us. Now I have a recipe to try. I will have to get past the unappetizing look of the raw tongue, though!

      Reply
    6. Ziho

      March 05, 2013 at 12:49 am

      Qué rico Mely!

      Me llevo la receta!

      Salu2 regios!

      Reply
    7. zerrin

      February 20, 2013 at 3:24 pm

      Hi Mely,
      I LOVE beef tongue! It is served cold as a mezze with drinks here in Turkey. Just boiled and sliced thinly when cold. We love to squeeze lemon on it when eating!
      Your recipe here is new to me and I like the tomato sauce in it! A must try recipe for me!

      Reply
    8. Karen

      February 19, 2013 at 6:00 pm

      Mmm, that looks delicious and reminds me of a beef tongue dish we used to get in a Basque restaurant. I cooked deer tongue last year for the first time... we loved it!

      Reply
    9. Nora

      February 19, 2013 at 12:09 am

      Mely, se me antojó demasiado! =P Hace mucho que no cocino lengua, yo la hago en salsa de tomate almendrada y le pongo aceitunas, como el pollo en almendrado.

      Reply
    10. Chris

      February 18, 2013 at 8:16 pm

      Yeah, that is one I'm not in a hurry to try. I've seen it in the stores, just can't get myself to try it yet.

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        October 09, 2015 at 10:50 pm

        tongue is fantastic. My mother used to make tongue stew. When my father made stew with a typical non organ part of the cow, it tasted weird to me - no flavor. I also found beef cheeks really tasty. That was a first for me the other day.

        Reply
      • mmartinez

        October 13, 2015 at 8:43 pm

        Hello,

        So glad to know other people like tongue stew. The cheeks are really tasty indeed, but hard to find here where I live. Thank you for you comment and happy cooking!

        Reply
    11. NORMA RUIZ

      February 18, 2013 at 7:16 pm

      A mi esposo y a mi nos encantan la lengua y preparada de esta manera debe quedar riquisima, tomo nota no soy tan buena cocinera y siempre aprendo algo de cada uno de ustedes Mely, mil gracias besitos linda semana.

      Norma Ruiz

      Reply
    12. Rebecca Subbiah

      February 18, 2013 at 3:41 am

      if anyone can cook tongue you can 🙂

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.
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