How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (2024)

Inside: If you have ever wanted to learn how to make beef tongue tacos, you are in the right place. Keep reading to find out the proper way to make this Mexican delicacy.

This is part of asponsored collaboration with Rumba Meats. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (1)

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A couple of months ago I shared my recipe for making authentic Mexican menudo. Menudo is a tasty soup made using beef tripe and is commonly consumed throughout Mexico. Today, I want to share another recipe that may seem odd to some, but that is really quite good! The recipe I am going to share today is for beef tongue tacos, or “tacos de lengua.”

In Mexico, there are many recipes that use the less commonly-consumed cuts of meat, such as beef tripe, beef tongue, oxtails, and cheek meat. Here in the United States, you won’t find these cuts on many menus, and the meat can be hard to find as well! Fortunately, you can easily order all of these types of meat from the comfort of your home from Rumba Meats.

How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (2)

I recently purchased the variety pack from Rumba Meats, and it came with all of the cuts that I listed above. It was a really good deal for the amount of meat that came in the box, and it arrived in a very well packed box, and still frozen! The meat is very high quality and will allow you to make this beef tongue tacos recipe and more.

What Does Beef Tongue Taste Like?

When people hear “beef tongue”, the most common reaction is that it must not taste good. However, once people give it a try, they usually enjoy it! When cooked correctly, beef tongue is extremely tender and flavorful and is the perfect base for a delicious taco.

In order to ensure that the beef tongue is tender, you have to prepare it carefully and cook it slowly. The end result will surprise you and you will understand why these tacos are so popular in Mexico.

How Do You Cook Beef Tongue Properly?

The first step to cooking Beef Tongue is to prepare it by washing it and removing any excess fat.

Next, you will cook it in a large stockpot with boiling water and some fresh herbs, garlic and spices.

Once the beef tongue is cooked according to the instructionsabove, you will be able to easily remove the outer layer of the tongue and get into the tender meat in the center.

I always like to cut the beef tongue into small pieces, and then add it back to a frying pan with some oil and some of the broth that is leftover from cooking the meat.

How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (3)

Finally, it is time to put together the tacos. This is a pretty straightforward process. First, take a corn tortilla and heat it in the microwave or over the stove. Next, add the shredded beef tongue and top with cilantro, diced onions, a spritz of lime juice, and a pinch of salt. The last step is to add a delicious salsa, like this salsa verde or this salsa roja.

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One taste of these beef tongue tacos and I am sure that you will be a fan. Make sure to come back and let me know how they turned out in the comments below.

How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (5)

Don’t forget to check out Rumba Meats on Amazon here.

Other Authentic Mexican Recipes That You May Enjoy

  • The Best Chilaquiles Recipe
  • Barbacoa Tacos
  • Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
  • Authentic Mexican Tamales
  • Authentic Mexican Carne Asada
  • Authentic Mexican Horchata

How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (6)

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Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua)

These beef tongue tacos, or tacos de lengua, are tender, flavorful, and very authentic.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: tacos de lengua, tongue

Servings: 20 Tacos

Calories: 196kcal

Author: Charbel Barker

Ingredients

  • 1 Beef Tongue Rumba Meats
  • 1.5 liters water
  • 1 onion
  • 1 bunch thyme fresh
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 20 corn tortillas
  • 3 limes
  • 1 bunch cilantro chopped
  • 1 cup salsa verde
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Start by cleaning the beef tongue and cutting off excess fat

  • Add the onion, the thyme, the garlic cloves, and the salt to a large stockpot full of boiling water, and then add the beef tongue

  • Let cook over medium heat for 30-45 minutes, or until you can easily insert a fork

  • Once tender, remove the beef tongue, and peel away the outer layer of the beef tongue

  • Next, cut the meat from the beef tongue into very small pieces

  • take 1/4 cup of the water where you boiled the beef tongue, and add it to 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, and add to a frying pan over medium heat

  • Add the chopped up beef tongue and mix and let cook for a couple of minutes

  • Make the tacos by adding a small amount of the beef tongue to a corn tortilla and top with chopped onions, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and salsa verde

Nutrition

Serving: 1Taco | Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 252mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 4.3mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @mylatinatable or tag #mylatinatable!

How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (7)

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How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How To Make Authentic Beef Tongue Tacos (Tacos de Lengua Recipe)? ›

Add tongue, onions, crushed garlic, peppercorns and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, cover and let cook for 3 hours until tender. Using tongs, carefully remove tongue from water and allow to cool on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes (until it's cool enough to handle).

What is taco de lengua made of? ›

Lengua (tongue) is used in so many cuisines all over the world. In Mexico, it is a true delicacy and if cooked correctly, its melt in your mouth delicious. While growing up eating beef tongue tacos was extremely normal and I LOVED the flavor and tender texture.

How do you know when beef tongue is done? ›

Tongue is ready to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, take the cooked tongue out of the pot and place it on a cutting board to rest for five to ten minutes.

What Mexican dish is made from cow tongue? ›

This dish is enjoyed by those who appreciate offal or organ meats in their cuisine. Lengua de res—beef tongue is used to make tacos de lengua. A beef tongue is boiled with spices, garlic, and onion for around two hours. The outer skin is peeled off of it and the tongue is chopped up for the tacos.

What is the Flavour of beef tongue? ›

What Does Beef Tongue Taste Like? Ox Tongue as it is also known is well worth trying out at least once in your lifetime. The meat boasts a mild, somewhat fatty flavor since it consists of pure muscle. The closest thing most people will relate to is a Roast Beef type consistency and fattiness.

Are beef tongue tacos good? ›

It ends up a perfectly browned, melt in your mouth, crazy good tasting filling for tacos when generously spooned on warm corn tortillas… Having a gamey taste and that ridiculously tender texture, the best salsa to pair it with is a tangy and punchy cooked salsa verde…

How long does it take for a tongue to be cooked? ›

Place tongue into a soup pot. Season with salt and pour in enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until the outer skin begins to peel off, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Peel off skin and discard.

Do you have to brine beef tongue? ›

Preparing tongue

So let's do it! Start with an optional brine, parboil or poach, peel and trim, and you're ready for many many recipes. Brining will further increase the tenderness. I usually cover with water and add a generous quantity of salt.

What ethnicity 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, ...

Do Mexicans eat beef tongue? ›

Beef tongue is exactly what it sounds like – the big ol' tongue of a cow. Though not as commonly found on the average U.S. family's dinner table, it's widely used in Mexican cuisine, as well as several European, Asian, and South American cultures.

Is cow tongue the same as barbacoa? ›

Nowadays, barbacoa is mostly known as the cheek meat (cachete), tongue (lengua) or "mixta," which is all the various bits left after the cow head is cooked and the meat pulled off. The resulting barbacoa is usually served as tacos with cilantro, onions, chile pequins and a red or green sauce.

Are tongue tacos 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.

What is the rarest tongue trick? ›

If you can twist your tongue into a cloverleaf, you are gifted. It is one of the rarest tricks.

What cut of meat is tongue? ›

Beef tongue (also known as neat's tongue or ox tongue) is a cut of beef made of the tongue of a cow. It can be boiled, pickled, roasted or braised in sauce. It is found in many national cuisines, and is used for taco fillings in Mexico and for open-faced sandwiches in the United States.

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