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
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
Directions:
- 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)
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.
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
Have you tried beef tongue?
📖 Recipe
Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce
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.
Howard Patterson
My Jewish mother, from Iowa and Minnesota with Moldovan immigrant parents, used to make a dish she called Spanish Tongue. I will try this recipe and see how it compares with my (very dim) memory. I think I'll try adding capers and olives...
Mely Martínez
Hello Howard,
I hope it is of your liking.
Happy cooking!
Ronald John Provencio
going to try this. Reminds me of mom! WI let you know how it turns out. Thank you for your wonderful recipes
Mely Martínez
Hello Roland,
I hope you like it.
Jaime Molina
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
Mely Martínez
Hello Jaime,
I sent you an email with the answer.
Carole
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
Prieta
Mely, donde andas? Te extraño!
Angela Williams Duea
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!
Ziho
Qué rico Mely!
Me llevo la receta!
Salu2 regios!
zerrin
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!
Karen
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!
Nora
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.
Chris
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.
Anonymous
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.
mmartinez
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!
NORMA RUIZ
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
Rebecca Subbiah
if anyone can cook tongue you can 🙂