Tacos de Lengua
Authentic tacos de lengua made with slow cooked beef tongue, warm corn tortillas, fresh cilantro, onion, and salsa verde. These tender Mexican street tacos are rich, juicy, and packed with traditional taqueria flavor.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 320kcal
Equipment
- 1 Large stockpot
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 Tongs
Ingredients
For the Lengua
- 1 whole beef tongue 3 to 4 pounds
- 1 white onion halved
- 1 garlic head halved
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- Water to cover the tongue
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
For Serving
- 12 corn tortillas
- 1 cup chopped white onion
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- Salsa verde
- Lime wedges
Instructions
Step 1
- Rinse the beef tongue thoroughly under cold water.
Step 2
- Place the tongue in a large stockpot with onion, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, salt, and peppercorns.
Step 3
- Cover with water by about 2 inches and bring to a boil.
Step 4
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 to 4 hours until fork tender.
Step 5
- Remove the tongue from the broth and let it cool slightly.
Step 6
- While still warm, peel away the thick outer skin and trim rough tissue from the underside.
Step 7
- Dice the lengua into bite sized cubes.
Step 8
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat and sear the lengua for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly crisp.
Step 9
- Warm the corn tortillas on a skillet for about 30 seconds per side.
Step 10
- Fill tortillas with lengua and top with chopped onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and lime juice.
Step 11
- Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Peel the tongue while still warm for easier removal.
- Slow simmering creates the most tender texture.
- Store leftovers with broth to keep the meat juicy.
- Salsa verde pairs best with tacos de lengua.
Nutrition Information
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Protein: 24g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg