This Venezuelan Lengua en Salsa recipe is super tender, easy to make and full of flavor.
Venezuelan Lengua en Salsa Recipe – Beef Tongue in Tomato Sauce Recipe
Dishes made with beef tongue are common in gourmet kitchens around the world and after doing some research for this recipe, I was surprised to learn that each country has its own version.
I am sure you have heard of – the most famous –Tacos de Lengua, they are super popular in Mexico and people swear they are the best.
In Venezuela the main beef tongue dish is called Lengua en Salsa, that is not more than a tender beef tongue in a flavorful tomato-based sauce with veggies.
My dad adores this dish and I remember him eating it so many times while watching fútbol (soccer)! So I am planning a family fútbol watching party and the main dish will be this Lengua en Salsa.
The “Lengua en Salsa” recipe I am sharing today comes from my family. Having said that, I always like to add my personal touch to my recipes, so I decided to add a little bit of white wine, which was a wonderful idea in my opinion.
The recipe is pretty simple…once the tongue is cooked the rest will come together in a breeze.
About Rumba Meat Beef Tongue
You know that when it comes to specials cut of meat, I trust Rumba Meats! All their products are high-quality. Plus, they’re vacuum-sealed for added freshness and clearly labeled.
How beef tongue taste like?
It tastes beefy. It’s not different from a brisket or pot roast. If cooked properly it’s very tender.
Where I can buy beef tongue?
I bought mine at my local Walmart. You can also ask your butcher or buy online at Amazon.
How to cook beef tongue
You can cook the tongue over the stovetop, in a pressure cooker or a slow cooker. I don’t recommend roasting it because it dries it out too much to my taste. To cook follow these simple steps:
- First, you need to wash the tongue under cold water.
- Place the tongue in the pot and cover with beef stock. Add onion, garlic, peppercorns, and a bay leaf. Cook until tender. The cooking time will depend on the cooking method you choose.
- Let the tongue cool enough to handle, peel the outer layer of skin from beef tongue and remove rough end. Chop the meat into bite-size pieces.
- When the tongue is cooked, cleaned and cut you can prepare it with any sauce you like.
How long does tongue cook?
- Stovetop: 3 hours. Make sure the tongue is always cover with liquid (water/stock).
- Pressure Cooker: 35-40 minutes on high pressure.
- Slow Cooker: 8-10 hour on LOW mode.
How to remove the rough part of the beef tongue
After cooking it, allow the beef tongue to cool until easier to handle.
Place the tongue on cutting board and slice it.
With a sharp knife remove the bottom part that looks fibrous and uneven. See photo below.
Variations you can apply to this recipe
I consulted with some Venezuelan friends and they suggested some great ideas:
Green Olive: add 1/2 cup of sliced green olive just after you add the tomato sauce. Then follow the same steps.
Capers: add 2 tablespoons of capers when sauteing the onion and peppers. Then follow the same steps.
Raisins: add 1/2 cup of raisins when sauteing the onion and peppers. Then follow the same steps.
What to serve Beef Tongue with?
I love to serve Lengua en Salsa with white rice and sweet plantain. Yucca fries or mashed potatoes could be a great option too.
Looking for more Venezuelan recipes?
- Venezuelan Mondongo Soup [recipe+video]
- Instant Pot Venezuelan Oxtail Soup [Sopa de Rabo][Video]
- Venezuelan Asado Negro
- Venezuelan Pabellon Bowl [Video]
- Eggless Venezuelan Tequeños
- Venezuelan Flan Quesillo
- more
Venezuelan Lengua en Salsa
Ingredients
To cook the tongue:
- 1 Rumba Meats beef tongue (mine was 4.4 lb)
- 4 cups beef stock
- 1 onion, quartered
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon Peppercorns
Lengua en Salsa
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup onion, finely diced
- 1 cup green bell pepper, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup white wine (see notes)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Kosher salt to taste (I added ½ teaspoon)
- ¼ teaspoons black pepper
- Fresh chopped cilantro to garnish
Important
Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!
Instructions
- Wash the whole tongue in cold water.
- Place tongue, beef stock, onion, garlic, bay leaf and peppercorns in the Instant Pot.
- Close lid and Select “Pressure Cook” mode adjust to 40 minutes. When cooking is complete let the pressure cooker naturally release pressure for 10 minutes. Then press “Cancel” and carefully turn the vent to “Venting” to release the pressure. Then remove the lid.
- Remove the cooked beef tongue to a cutting board. Allow cooling until easier to handle. When cool enough, peel the outer layer of skin from beef tongue and remove rough end. Chop the meat into bite-size pieces
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and green pepper and cook until soft and caramelized – about 5 minutes. Add the garlic; cook for one more minute.
- Add beef tongue bites and mix to combine. Add wine and let the wine reduce, about 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce, oregano and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5-8 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and server with rice and sweet plantains, if desired.
- Venezuelan Mondongo Soup [recipe+video]
- Instant Pot Venezuelan Oxtail Soup [Sopa de Rabo][Video]
- Venezuelan Asado Negro
- Venezuelan Pabellon Bowl [Video]
- Eggless Venezuelan Tequeños
- Venezuelan Flan Quesillo
- more
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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