Tongue Italian Style Recipes

SLOW COOKER LENGUA (BEEF TONGUE)

Steps:

• Place beef tongue, onion, garlic, and bay leaf in the crock of a slow cooker; generously season with salt. Pour in enough water to cover beef mixture.
• Cook on Low for 8 hours.
• Transfer beef tongue to a work surface and cool slightly. Peel outer layer of skin from beef tongue and remove rough end. Chop the meat into bite-size pieces.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir beef tongue meat until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

BRAISED TONGUE

Steps:

• Pour the neutral oil into a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven set over medium heat. Sweat onion 5 minutes, stirring constantly so no color develops.
• Add the celery and carrot and 3 tablespoons of water. Cover with a tightfitting lid, and let the vegetables steam for a few minutes, being careful not to scorch. Add more water if necessary.
• Arrange the tongue in the pot, and add the parsley stems, bay leaves, peppercorns, red-wine vinegar and salt. Pour in enough water to just barely cover the tongue. Cover with a lid, and bring to a boil.
• Once the tongue braise has come to a boil, remove the lid, and reduce to a simmer. Cut a round of parchment the diameter of the pot and set it directly on top of the braising liquid. Simmer the tongue 4 hours, adding more water if needed to keep the tongue just covered. The tongue tends to suck up a lot of water quite quickly.
• Remove the tongue from the braising liquid. Strain the braising liquid (discard the solids), and return liquid to the pot. Peel the thick outer skin off the tongue while it is still warm. Trim off any fat or gristle, then return the tongue to the braising liquid and let cool completely.
• To serve, cut the tongue crosswise into thin slices, and arrange on a platter in a single layer. Drizzle with a few drops of the braising liquid. Spoon the gribiche over the tongue, and top with some fresh-picked parsley leaves and a generous glug of olive oil.

LENGUA (BEEF TONGUE)

Steps:

• Place the tongue, half of the chopped onion, garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons salt, and 1 jalapeno pepper into a large pot. Fill with water to cover the tongue by several inches, then bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until very tender, 3 to 4 hours. Remove the tongue from the water and allow to cool. Reserve the liquid. Once the tongue has cooled, peel off the tough outer skin, then shred the meat using two forks.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the whole tomatoes and 2 jalapeno peppers; boil until the vegetables are tender. Place the vegetables into a blender, and puree until smooth. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Once the onion has softened, stir in the shredded beef tongue and tomato salsa. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then pour in 2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid. Cook and stir until the liquid has evaporated, leaving moist, flavorful meat, about 20 minutes.

TONGUE - ITALIAN STYLE

Steps:

• 1. Wash tongue, and place in large kettle with enough water to cover. Simmer 2-2-1/2 hrs until barely tender. Reserve 1/2 cup of water from tongue. Remove tongue, peel off skin and trim well. In a large dutch oven, melt margarine, add carrots and onions, cook until lightly brown. Add ham, then the wine and then add reserved liquid from tongue, tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, parsley & salt and pepper to taste. Add tongue back to sauce and simmer until tender.

CAPOZZELLI DI ANGNELLI (ITALIAN LAMB'S HEAD)

Steps:

• Remove eyes and tongue of lamb's head.
• Parboil lamb's head and tongue fully submerged in pot of boiling salted water covering head for 10 minutes.
• Leave tongue to simmer tongue for 20-30 minutes longer in salted water; remove, run under cold water, remove the outer tongue skin or can be sliced into small slivers after cooked.
• Return tongue to lamb's mouth. Make a marinade by combining Butter (½ the amount), Olive oil (½ the amount), red wine, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper ingredients; pour over head while warm and marinate for 1 hour, turning occasionally.
• Bake in a 325F oven for 1 1/2 hours, basting and turning over every 20-30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and turn oven broiler on high.
• Take the remaining butter (melted) and olive oil with a minced clove of garlic, salt and splash of wine mixed together.
• Pour half of this mixture onto the head put into the broiler about 6 inches from flame for about 5-10 minutes until minced garlic becomes lightly browned, turn over put the remaining mixture. Again until lightly browned.
• Remove from broiler. Let rest 5 minutes and serve.
• Place on a bed of parsley, risotto or spaghetti of your choice. Decorate with flower petals.
• I prefer spaghetti with pesto sauce in fork rolls* and steamed Asparagus. *(spaghetti rolled up in little rolls with a fork and placed on the dish) Excellent with fresh lightly toasted garlic bread.
• Goes well with any homemade Italian wine or chardonnay, pinot grigio or if you must have your red wine, pinot noir or cabernet sauvignon. Chianti would be too astringent for this dish.