Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (2024)

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These classic Mexican tacos are served with salsa verde and avocado.

By

Elise Bauer

Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated December 03, 2023

11 Ratings

Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (2)

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Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (3)

This recipe is not for the food-queazy. If that's you, you might want to just skip this one, or instead check out some of ourchicken breast recipes. What? You're still with us? Okay, don't say I didn't warn you.

My first recollection of beef tongue was when I was about 8 years old and there happened to be a huge one in the refrigerator.

It looked, and felt (I touched it, who could resist?) like a ginormous tongue.

Just like my little 8-year old tongue, but oh my gosh, it was so big!

And then my parents cooked it and made us eat it. (No idea how they prepared it.) The texture. It was so, so tongue-like. All too weird, even for me.

Fast forward a couple decades (okay, more than a couple) and I'm in Mexico when my bud Matt announces that there's a crowd around the lengua tacos in the buffet line. I get there just in time to scoop up the last of the day's lengua for my taco and I'm in tongue heaven. So tender, so perfect in a taco.

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Here's the deal with tongue.

Prepared correctly it is melt-in-your-mouth tender (from slow braising) and flavorful (because it's a muscle that got a lot of exercise). If you chop it up enough the texture isn't an issue. Its home of homes is truly in a taco, slathered with tomatillo salsa verde.

By the way, my mother instructed me to tell you that the way you know you are at an authentic taqueria is that there are "tacos de lengua" (tongue tacos) on the menu. If you find yourself at such a taqueria, try some!

Or if you are the adventurous sort, and love tacos and Mexican food, the following is a traditional Mexican recipe for tacos de lengua, taught to me by my Acapulco friend Arturo Vargas. This is the way his mother made it for him growing up.

Outrageously good. If I could, I would eat the entire batch all by myself.

Beef Tacos de Lengua (Beef Tongue Tacos)

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time3 hrs 45 mins

Total Time4 hrs

Servings18to 24 tacos

Beef tongue may be found at local Asian markets, Mexican markets, or ordered by your local butcher.

Bottled or canned salsa verde can be found in the Hispanic section of markets.

Ingredients

  • 1 3 to 4 pound beef tongue

  • 2 large onions, peeled

  • Cloves from 1 head (yes, an entire head) of garlic, peeled and crushed

  • 6 to 7 bay leaves

  • 1 tablespoon peppercorns

  • 2 tablespoons salt

  • Vegetable oil

  • 12 to 24 corn tortillas (2 to 3 per person)

  • Salsa verde

  • Avocados

  • Cilantro

  • Chopped red onion

  • Thinly sliced radishes for garnish

Method

  1. Simmer the tongue:

    Fill a large (12-quart if you have one) stock pot two-thirds full with water. Add the tongue, onions, crushed garlic cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, and salt.

    Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 3 hours, until the tongue is soft to the touch and tender.

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (5)

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (6)

  2. Remove the skin-like covering:

    Remove tongue from water and let cool for a couple of minutes.

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (7)

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (8)

    Notice the light colored skin-like covering over most of the tongue. Using your fingers, and/or a sharp small knife, remove this covering and discard.

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (9)

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (10)

    Notice the rough patch of meat where the tongue would attach to the bottom of the mouth. Arturo removes this patch (as does his mother when she prepares tongue) because it is a little rough. It's perfectly edible though, so keep it attached if you want.

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (11)

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (12)

  3. Slice and sauté the tongue:

    Slice the tongue in 1/4-inch slices. (If you are not preparing the whole tongue for tacos, you can return whatever tongue you do not slice to the cooking water to soak.)

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    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (14)

    Heat a little oil in a frying pan on medium high and sauté the slices on both sides until they are lightly browned.

  4. Dice the tongue:

    Remove from pan and slice first into strips, then crosswise again so that you end up with small cubes.

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (15)

    Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (16)

  5. Assemble the tacos:

    Soften tortillas either by cooking on the stove-top until pockets of air appear in them, or in the microwave (about 10 seconds per tortilla).

    Place a large spoonful of meat in the center of a tortilla. Add a spoonful of salsa verde and some chopped avocado, onion, and chopped fresh cilantro. Garnish with radish slices.

    Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!

  • Gluten-Free Dinners
  • Beef
  • Tacos
  • Cinco De Mayo
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
365Calories
25g Fat
19g Carbs
18g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 18to 24
Amount per serving
Calories365
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g32%
Saturated Fat 7g36%
Cholesterol 100mg33%
Sodium 836mg36%
Total Carbohydrate 19g7%
Dietary Fiber 6g20%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 13mg64%
Calcium 42mg3%
Iron 3mg16%
Potassium 549mg12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Try Something New With These Mexican Tacos De Lengua (2024)

FAQs

What are tacos de lengua made of? ›

Tacos de Lengua (Beef Tongue Tacos)

Add the beef tongue, bacon, sofrito, onion, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, chipotle peppers and liquid smoke to the pressure cooker and add enough water to fill up to machine's max fill line.

How do you say cow tongue tacos in Spanish? ›

Beef Tacos de Lengua (Beef Tongue Tacos)

What is cow tongue meat called? ›

Lengua, Spanish for "tongue," is the tongue of a beef cow. Lengua is a tough cut—if you've ever seen a cow use its long, dextrous tongue to pull a tuft of grass or a clump of hay into its mouth, you'll understand why.

What animal does tacos de lengua come from? ›

Once cooked, Lengua (Beef Tongue) is one of the most tender meats you will ever eat. I've gotten quite a few of my friends to try it, and they've all been surprised at how tender the meat is.

Why do people eat lengua? ›

Lengua is renowned for its deep, beefy flavor that surpasses even the most prized cuts. It's intensely savory, with a slight sweetness that emerges through slow cooking methods like braising or stewing.

Are tacos de lengua healthy? ›

Lengua/tongue is very low in fat, making a lot of dietary sense, as well as being delicious! Just takes a long, slow cooking time. Awesome Peg, tacos de lengua are really delicious when cooked properly!

Is lengua healthy? ›

Eating protein-packed cow tongue is excellent for your physical and mental health with plenty of nutritional benefits. Beef Tongue, while not quite packing the same punch as Liver or Kidney, it is rich in immune-boosting vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, choline, and high in Vitamin B12.

How do Mexicans eat cow tongue? ›

Using a little bit of the vegetable oil, saute lengua (tongue) until it is a little crisp on the tips and is heated through. This may be done on a flat top or a saute pan. Top with a little sauce, then cojita, then onions, then fresh cilantro. Squeeze fresh lime juice over taco and enjoy!

Do Spanish eat beef tongue? ›

Cured marinated cow tongue is one of the jewels of Spanish gastronomy. It is a meat product obtained from the tongue of the cow, which is marinated and cured for a certain time so that it acquires a unique flavor and texture.

What race eats cow tongue? ›

Also, tongue is a part of Albanian, Argentine, Brazilian, Bulgarian (tongue with butter), British, French, Indonesian (semur lidah or beef tongue stew), Italian (typical dish in Piemonte and Liguria), Colombian, Chinese (braised), Japanese, Korean (hyeomit gui), Filipino, Lithuanian, Latvian, Norwegian, Mexican, ...

Is cow tongue chewy? ›

Beef tongue can be chewy and tough if cooked incorrectly, so it's integral to remember to cook the tongue slowly on low heat. Ideally, you want to tenderize the meat first, making it much easier to remove the tongue's firm outer layer. When prepared correctly, tongue meat's texture can resemble that of butter.

Is cow tongue a red meat? ›

The bottom line on beef tongue nutrition

You'll get a lot of B vitamins, iron, zinc, choline, protein, and other nutrients from beef tongue, but like any red meat, you should eat it in moderation alongside a healthy mix of other foods.

What is pastor meat? ›

The Al Pastor meat is usually made from boneless pork shoulder, which is a triangular cut from the area just above the front leg of the pig. Butchers often sell pork shoulder with the skin on and a layer of fat. The al pastor taco has to be cooked on a rotating spit.

What animal is taco Bell meat? ›

We use 100 percent USDA premium beef in our seasoned beef. We prepare it much the same way you prepare taco meat at home: after simmering, it is drained of excess fat and pre-seasoned with our signature blend of 7 authentic seasonings and spices.

Are tacos de lengua chewy? ›

It is a true delicacy; and if cooked correctly, It becomes super soft while preserving its meaty texture. It's melt in your mouth delicious.

Is tongue pork or beef? ›

The tongues from many types of animals are eaten worldwide, including the most popular varieties of ox, lamb, pig, calf, and duck. Typically cooked for several hours to break down the tough muscle of the meat, tongues will usually have their skins removed once softened, and are ultimately served sliced or cubed/diced.

Is beef tongue chewy? ›

Beef tongue can be chewy and tough if cooked incorrectly, so it's integral to remember to cook the tongue slowly on low heat. Ideally, you want to tenderize the meat first, making it much easier to remove the tongue's firm outer layer. When prepared correctly, tongue meat's texture can resemble that of butter.

What is a lengua made of? ›

Lengua is a dish made from beef or pork tongue, beef being the more popular choice.

Is cow tongue in ground beef? ›

According to the FSIS, beef heart and beef tongue meat have always been permitted in ground beef, along with other organ meats, despite a 1981 published policy memo (#027) that states otherwise (PDF).

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