Actually cooking organ meats week after week
The combination of brining, simmering and then pickling may yield the most tender version of tongue you can find. Plus, the layers of flavor are rich and deep. Use a large beef tongue or two to three pork tongues to prepare this Pickled Tongue. This recipe can be enjoyed at home or taken on the go – as a preserved meat for outings or travel….
Tongue tacos are definitely a thing. Because tongue is a super fatty, meltingly tender meat. And it’s mild in flavor. And it could easily win over even with the skeptical consumer. But why be limited to the second half of the day? If Americans are enjoying cold cereals morning, noon and night – then I advocate we flip that and bring our favorite dinners to the breakfast table. Breakfast Tongue Tacos are a great way to start your day. Plus, it better aligns with the ‘savory, sour, fermented and tepid’ elements we see in breakfasts around the world. …
When my father-in-law travels to Iran, we are the beneficiaries. He often brings us large bags of pistacios and tiny sacks of saffron (and if my husband is lucky, a box of gaz – Persian nougat with pistacios). Over the years, I’ve grown to love the flavor of saffon. Too much and it’s almost metallic, too little and you’ll miss the essence of it. But saffron adds such earthy-sweet, delicious flavor to dishes that I knew from this start that Saffron-Spiced Tongue would be great. …
Bison, or American Buffalo, was an ‘all-purpose resource for the American Indian’ and Bison Tongue was considered the ‘best meat’ on this all-purpose beast. When I recently got my hands on a bison tongue, I created a meal with foods from the North American landscape. Bison Tongue alongside Wild Rice, Cranberries and Mushrooms is a modern take on simple meal components. It is served with a healthy dose of reverence and gratitude, explained in a longer blog post than usual….
Pork Tongue Stir-Fry was inspired during a homeschool block on Ancient China with my 6th grader and reminiscing about my own experiences. My dad loved Chinese food (as American as it may have been) and my mom took Chinese cooking classes when I was young. I remember the dragon from Chinese New Year’s parades in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and the inside of urban markets where she would scour for ingredients….
Duck tongue stir-fry requires pulling that little cartilage piece right out from from the tongue. (See below.) That tongue is left with nothing to say. Meanwhile, the more space I have in my life, I also find myself having less to say. Except to thank all the people and places woven into the tapestry of my life and heart….
Lamb’s Tongue with Turnips and Bacon. The turnips lend earthy and devine. The arugula adds freshness and peppery bite. Bacon takes the whole dish home.
This was a beautiful dish and well worth the effort. But make no mistake, it was just another day and yet another example of things ‘gone wrong’ in my kitchen. But mindset matters. If the outcome is a reflection of me, I’m in a bind. If it’s all an experiment, I can avoid taking it personally and carry on. Even when I’m eager to prepare something ‘beautiful’ and ‘delicious.’…
Two weeks ago I heard the keto carnivore argument that ribeye is the perfect food. Even though I’ve known about all the pieces of this equation – something clicked in me. Suddenly, it became clear that Justin Nault was right. Yet, while we love indulging in steak around here, I confess that I have a trump card in my back pocket. Let Seared Tongue replace your pricey ribeye tonight.
I’ve mentioned that tongue reminds me of Waygu beef, but I now see even more pleasure in that analogy than I had before. Yes, if ribeye is the perfect food; then so is tongue….
I love a sweet, juicy, warm summer tomato, and I love a typical BLTA. But when snow is falling and the tomatoes at the store resemble pale, mealy baseballs – I just can’t be convinced to buy one.
I guess if you’ve never had a ripe tomato and you don’t know the difference, it’s understandable. Yet, once you start eating seasonally, it’s hard to go back.
In the meantime, I happened to have a poached and peeled tongue in my fridge. Fortunately, the new and improved BLTA – bacon, lettuce, tongue and avocado – is still a crowd-pleaser….
After a paralyzing moment, when I worried that this dish (and my own tongue) may be a bit too salty, melting butter, crispy breadcrumbs, and intentional appreciations save the day.
Savory. Rich and heavenly. And crunchy on top. Mmmm. Broiled Tongue with Anchovy Butter: “this is good.”
I feel like I’ve barely been treading water the past few weeks and was so looking forward to a little break on Mother’s Day yesterday. Earlier in the week, Carrie reminded me to speak up. There is no mind reading going on and I need to ask for what I want. Dutifully, on my behalf, I sent a note to my dear husband saying I wanted to be off the hook on Sunday….