Provencal Beef Tongue Sandwiches

Provençal Beef Tongue Sandwiches feature tender, nutrient-rich thin sliced beef tongue, roasted garlic and anchovy aioli, and peppery arugula all on a toasted baguette. If you have a daring palate, and like to try new things, or you’ve got childhood memories (as do I) this recipe may just pique your interest! 😋

The first time you see something that you have never seen before, you almost always know right away if you should eat it or run away from it.

~~ Scott Adams, American cartoonist and creator of Dilbert

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks – About Offal and Beef Tongue

Do you “run away” from non-standard cuts of animals (offal)? As a child, our family was on a very tight budget, and eating the less-desirable parts of animals was just a way of life. When you’re hungry, you eat what you’re offered, and eventually, I learned to love most of these foods.

My father was a PhD student until I was 7, and I married a PhD student. He finished when our oldest was 6 and we had the 3rd of our 4 sons. I continued to cook offal (organ meats) throughout Mark’s graduate school career.

Having moved to a border city with a very strong Hispanic influence, I once again found myself craving beef tongue. Organ meats are very definitely a part of Mexican cuisine. I loved it growing up, and I love it as an adult!

My tongue sandwiches began my adventure back to my roots; I was getting my “toes wet” so to speak as I tried to gauge interest. I am now updating this March 2016 post (it desperately needs new photos!), and since then, I have done lengua tacos (beef tongue), citrus-marinated chicken hearts, and Peruvian chicken anticuchos.

While they’ve never gone “viral,” you might be surprised to learn all 4 of these organ meats recipes get consistent traffic! I guess not too many bloggers love organ meats? 😂

🥩 Is Beef Tongue Healthy?

While I would recommend against eating tongue every day, it can be part of a healthy diet. Tongue is nutrient-rich, and especially high in iron. As a woman that has struggled with anemia her entire life, the iron is a major consideration. Iron offers:

• high-quality protein.
• a concentrated source of vitamin A
• all the B vitamins in abundance, particularly vitamin B12
• one of our best sources of folic acid
• a highly usable form of iron
• trace elements such as copper, zinc and chromium; liver is our best source of copper
• a good source of purines, nitrogen-containing compounds that serve as precursors for DNA and RNA.

It is important to keep in mind that beef tongue is relatively high in fats and calories. A 3 ounce cooked portion contains 241 calories and 19 grams of fat.

🌡️ Is Tongue Safe to Eat?

Yes, but as with most food, you really need to know and trust the source. It is important that the tongue is properly cleaned and cooked.

🍲 Cooking Beef Tongue in an Instant Pot

A pressure-cooker is an invaluable piece of kitchen equipment when it comes to tenderizing tough cuts like tongue. I am including instructions for using one. It requires an hour under high pressure and a slow pressure release. However, you can use the same recipe and cook it 3 hours on the cook top or all day in your slow-cooker…

I prefer my Instant Pot because I can set it and walk away. You can do the same with a slow cooker, though you need to remember to start it early in the day.

Alternatively, cook it any time by any method. The tongue is twice-cooked (once for prep and once for the dish), so you can do it the day before or well in advance if properly stored.

After cooking the tongue, remove it with tongs to a bowl filled with cold water. I’d recommend saving the stock if you’re “into that.” I am.  🙂 Once the tongue is cool enough to handle, peel off the skin (it should remove easily).

For the sandwiches, I like nice, long sections not broken by fat or gristle. Cut them 1/4″ thick. They’ll go on a hot grill or griddle, and will be crispy and delicious in your sandwich. I save the smaller bits for my lengua tacos…

📋 Sandwich Ingredients

• sliced and grilled beef tongue – If you’ve already got your beef tongue prepared, this sandwich comes together quickly.
• baguette – We like baguette for the tongue sandwich, but you can use your preferred type of bread.
• roasted garlic and anchovy aioli
• 2 to 3 ounces arugula
• juice of 1 lemon
• a drizzle of olive oil (about a tablespoon)
• sea salt/fresh ground pepper

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🔪 Step by Step Instructions

• Cook the beef tongue – Place tongue in the Instant Pot. Add water to cover. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook on high for 1 hour. Release pressure after 10 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool enough to handle. Remove connective tissues and skin. The skin should come off easily. Cut into 1/4-inch slices across its length. At this point, the meat can be used as you desire.
• Prepare the aioli – Add the garlic, egg, anchovy, lemon juice, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor, and process until smooth. Pour in the olive oil in a very slow, steady stream until the aioli emulsifies. Remove lid, taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary. Anchovies are salty, and we don’t even add salt! (See Tyler Florence’s Anchovy Aioli here)
• Prepare the tongue – Grill or sear sliced tongue on a hot pan until it forms a little bit of a browned crust (see photo in post). This may take 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Toast the baguette – Slice baguette in half lengthwise. Brush with olive oil on cut side. Grill until toasted. Toss the arugula with the lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Assemble the sandwiches – spread the aioli on both slices of baguette. Arrange the sliced grilled tongue on one side, and the arugula salad on the other. Bring the 2 sides together. Cut into 4 portions. Serve and enjoy!

🌡️ Useful Stuff

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💭 Tips and FAQ

When I cook a beef tongue in the Instant Pot/pressure cooker, I try to plan ahead. The long, regularly-shaped pieces are great for this tongue sandwich. I save the tip of the tongue to cube up for tacos or to add to a stew.

I love having roasted garlic on hand, and will often do a couple bulbs at one time. See How to Roast Garlic in the Oven or Microwave Roasted Garlic. If you’re not into the extra step, but want the smoother, nuttier flavor of roasted garlic, you can buy it in the gourmet foods section or on Amazon.

I am sensing the “raised eyebrows” and skepticism of some of my readers. 😉  Have you tried beef tongue? If not, are you willing to give it a whirl? I would really love to hear your thoughts on the appeal (or lack thereof) of beef tongue and/or this recipe… I hope to hear from you soon!

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