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Colombian Style Tongue Recipe

Ingredients

  • Rumba Meats® Beef Tongue (1 package)
  • 5 scallions
  • For the Creole Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 3 cups diced tomatoes, fresh or canned
  • 4 scallions, diced
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse tongue well with water and place in a large pot. Add scallions and season with salt and pepper. Add water to cover.
  2. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 2½ to 3 hours until tongue is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF.
  3. Transfer tongue to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, peel off skin and trim any fat or gristle. Slice tongue and set aside.
  4. For Creole sauce: Heat oil in large saucepan. Add onions, tomatoes, garlic, scallions and cumin. Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring until softened.
  5. Reduce heat to low; cook for an additional 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened. stirring occasionally.
  6. Add sliced tongue and beef broth and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

FAQs

Do you peel beef tongue before cooking?

Traditionally, beef tongue is peeled after it has been fully cooked in stock or water. Cooking beef tongue can take anywhere from 50 minutes in an Instant Pot to 8 hours in a slow cooker.

Once cooked, slice the outer layer of the tongue open and peel it off. You’ll need to peel off the outer layer while the meat is still slightly hot. If you leave the meat to cool for too long, peeling the tongue will become difficult.

Is beef tongue chewy?

When properly prepared, beef tongue has a tender texture and rich beefy flavor. Slow cooking beef tongue in stock is the secret for falling-apart beef.

To prepare our Lengua en Salsa Criolla recipe, we recommend simmering tongue for 2½ to 3 hours to make it tender. After cooking, trim and cut the meat into thin slices, then simmer it in your sauce to further tenderize it and fill it with flavor. By the time it’s ready, the kitchen will be filled with mouth-watering aromas, and dinner will be a hit.

What is Salsa Criolla?

Salsa Criolla is a popular South American condiment. Although it can be found in many countries, it’s most often associated with Colombian or Peruvian cuisine. Our salsa criolla recipe features a lively blend of sauteed onions, tomatoes, garlic, cumin and scallions. Add tender sliced tongue and beef broth and then simmer for 10 minutes to blend flavors for this delicious meal.