Basque Tongue Recipes

BASQUE TONGUE

Steps:

• Wash one large beef tongue or several lamb tongues well. Place the tongue in a kettle and cover with cold water. Add 2 whole buttons of garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Bring the water to a boil and turn the heat down.
• Cover the kettle with a lid and keep the water boiling until the tongue is tender to fork. This can take three or more hours. When the tongue is tender, run cold water over it and skin it. Be sure to trim the membranes under the tongue. Next slice the tongue to about 1/4 inch slices. (The tongue can be fixed a day or two ahead and then wrapped in saran wrap and refrigerated).
• Saute the garlic, onion and green pepper until golden brown. Add tomato sauce, pimento and sugar. Simmer slowly for 15 minutes. Add the tongue and continue simmering until the tongue is good and hot. This dish is good hot or cold. The sauce can also be used for tripe, pigs feet or any left over meat.

TONGUE STEW

Steps:

• Place the tongue in a medium saucepan and add water - add enough to cover. Add the white onion, carrot, celery, bay leaves, clove, salt and black peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until tender. Transfer the tongue to a cutting board, cover with a damp towel and set aside to cool. Strain and reserve the stock.
• Peel and discard the tongue's skin. Cut the meat into 3 x 1/2-inch julienne strips.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the red onion until well browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saute an additional 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and jalapenos and saute 2 minutes longer. Then add the tongue and reserved stock. Simmer 8 minutes. Sprinkle in the oregano, and remove from the heat. Serve over white rice.

LENGUA (BEEF TONGUE) STEW

Steps:

• Place the beef tongue into a tight-fitting pot and cover with water by 1 inch. Add the salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the meat is tender, about 2 hours. Strain and reserve the cooking liquid. Remove and discard the skin from the tongue. Shred the meat using two forks; set aside.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, leek, celery, and carrots. Cook and stir until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste until no lumps remain and cook for 1 minute more. Add the shredded meat to the pot along with the reserved broth and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

PICKLED TONGUE

Steps:

• Boil tongue in salt water for 3 hours. Peel skin from the tongue.
• Mix remaining ingredients in a large, nonreactive pot and bring to a boil.
• Add meat and boil for 10 minutes.
• Cool and store in refridgerator for one week.
• Slice tongue thinly to serve.

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.