Boiled Beef Tongue

Description

Boiled beef tongue can be served as a standalone dish with a side, but it can also be used as an ingredient in sandwiches or salads. Broth made from the tongue is also very tasty. You can cook soup with it or make another dish—just remove the roots and vegetables from it and, if necessary, use fresh ones. Cooking time will vary depending on how much meat you use, so start checking for doneness after 2 hours of boiling. The appetizer is ready. Serve immediately.

Instructions

1. 1

   Step 1

   Place the beef tongue in a pot filled with cold water and soak it in the water for at least 30 minutes. Then remove the tongue from the pot, use a knife to clean the skin of dirt, fat, and blood residue, and rinse under running cold water.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Place a pot of clean water on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat and carefully lower the tongue into it. When the water comes back to a boil, let the tongue simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes.

3. 3

   Step 3

   After this, drain the water and rinse the pot. Fill it again with clean water, return the pot to the heat, and bring it to a boil. Place the tongue in the boiling water and, covering the pot with a lid, simmer it for another 2.5–3 hours over very low heat.

4. 4

   Step 4

   After about two hours of cooking, peel the onion, carrots, parsnip, and celery root. Pierce the onion in several places with a knife.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Add the vegetables and roots to the pot. Add a bay leaf, black pepper, and allspice as well. Let the tongue simmer for another 30 minutes.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Pierce the meat with a knife or fork at the thickest part. If clear juice starts to run from it, the tongue is done. If the juice is bloody, it needs to cook longer.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Remove the cooked meat from the pot (leave the pot on the heat—we’ll still need it), and plunge it into a bowl of cold water for 3 minutes. This will help peel the skin from the tongue.

8. 8

   Step 8

   On the back of the tongue, make a cut and gently peel off the skin; it should come off easily. If it does not, the tongue is not cooked yet—simmer it a little longer.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Season the broth. Return the cleaned tongue to it and simmer for another 15 minutes.

10. 10

    Step 10

    Slice the cooked tongue for serving and arrange it on a plate.