Beef Tongue Fajitas

Are you ready to discover a beef tongue recipe that is not only easy to make but also incredibly tasty? Well, you’re in for a treat! Get your apron on, and let’s dive into the world of cooking delicious beef tongue!

3 from 2 votes

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Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 1 5

Servings: servings

Calories: 368kcal

Author: Carolyn Thomas

Equipment

Pressure Cooker Instant Pot
knife
cutting board
Large Skillet

Ingredients

3 pound beef tongue or 4 pound tongue
2 whole onions red, yellow or white
6 cloves garlic
2 Tablespoons salt divided
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon onion powder
2 sweet peppers yellow, orange or red
additional toppings cilantro, sour cream, cheese, etc.

Instructions

Rinse the tongue well and add it to the pot of your Instant Pot (or pressure cooker) with rough-chopped onion, garlic, 1 ½ tablespoon salt, and enough water to cover by two inches.
Put the lid onto the Instant Pot and turn knob to sealing.
Pressure cook on high for 50 minutes for a 4 lb tongue (a 3 lb tongue would likely be done in 40 minutes).
While tongue is cooking, slice onions and peppers.
Once time is complete, manually release pressure. Use a towel and be careful of the steam.
Once pressure is reduced, remove beef tongue from the Instant Pot and allow to cool enough to handle.
While the tongue cools, add 1-2 Tablespoons of oil to a large skillet and add onions and peppers, stirring only occasionally. The goal is to soften the vegetables and slightly blacken the exterior.
Once it’s cool enough to handle, carefully peel the skin off of the tongue. Yes, this is the strangest part, but it should come right off!
Slice or shred the meat as desired. If adding the meat to the vegetables, I recommend slicing it in ½ inch slices so it holds up in the pan.
Add all spices and the remaining salt (½ tablespoon) to the pan with the vegetables. Homesteading Hack: Add meat as well if pan frying for color.
Cook everything in the pan until coated with spices and slightly crispy. Serve in warm tortillas or over rice.

Notes

Alternative Methods for Cooking Tongue

If peeling the tongue sounds intimidating, don’t fret! There are alternative methods you can try:

Cooking in a Pot – Some cooks prefer to cook the beef tongue with the membrane on and then remove it after cooking. This method can help keep the meat intact. To do this, cover the tongue with water and simmer for an hour to an hour and a half until cooked through and tender. The membrane will be easy to peel away from the meat. Just use caution, it will be hot!
Instant Pot – Using an Instant Pot can significantly speed up the cooking process and make it easier to remove the membrane once cooked. Just follow your Instant Pot’s instructions for cooking beef tongue, and then proceed with peeling.
Pickling – Pickling is a popular method of cooking beef tongue. The pickling process doesn’t involve vinegar at all but simply boiling the tongue with a variety of spices and seasonings, resulting in a deliciously tender and flavor-infused meat. To do this, cover the tongue with water and add a quartered onion, 6-8 garlic cloves, 2 Tablespoons whole peppercorns and any other herbs or spices you want. Simmer covered for an hour to an hour and a half until the tongue is cooked through and tender. The membrane will be easy to peel away from the meat. Just use caution, it will be hot!

Nutrition

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