Lengua Tacos
February 17, 2026 • 0 comments
🥩 Why Lengua?
Beef tongue is incredibly tender when cooked properly and has a rich, beefy flavor similar to brisket. Pressure cooking makes it melt-in-your-mouth soft, and a quick sear on the Blackstone gives it those crispy, caramelized edges that take tacos to the next level.
Using grass-finished beef lengua means clean, nutrient-dense protein with no added hormones or antibiotics — just honest beef raised the right way
Ingredients
- (1-2) Tongue
- (1) onion, quartered
- (4) Garlic Cloves
- (2) Bay Leaves
- (1 Tbsp) salt
- (1 tsp) Pepper
- (4 cups) beef broth or water
- (1-2 Tbsp) Tallow or Oil
- Corn Tortillas
- Fresh Cilantro
- Diced White Onion
- Lime Wedges
- Salsa
- Cotija Cheese
Directions
Step 1: Pressure Cook the Lengua
- Rinse the tongue thoroughly under cold water.
- Place it in the pressure cooker with onion, garlic, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and broth.
- Cook on high pressure for 60–75 minutes (depending on size).
- Allow natural release for 15 minutes, then manually release remaining pressure.
The tongue should be fork-tender.
Step 2: Peel the Skin
While still warm:
- Remove the tongue from the liquid.
- Peel off the thick outer membrane (it should slide off easily).
- Trim any excess fat at the base.
- Dice into small taco-sized pieces.
Step 3: Crisp on the Blackstone
- Preheat your Blackstone to medium-high heat.
- Add beef tallow or oil.
- Spread diced lengua in a single layer.
- Let it sear undisturbed for 2–3 minutes to develop crispy edges.
- Flip and cook another 2–3 minutes.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper.
You want crispy edges with tender, juicy centers.
Step 4: Build Your Tacos
Warm tortillas directly on the Blackstone.
Fill with crispy lengua and top with:
- Fresh onion
- Cilantro
- Lime squeeze
- Salsa
Simple toppings let the beef shine.
Pro Tips
- Save the cooking liquid for soup or to moisten leftovers.
- Lengua reheats beautifully.
- You can also shred instead of dice for a softer taco texture.
- Cook once, eat twice — use leftovers for breakfast tacos or burrito bowls.
