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If you have never tried beef tongue, this is a perfect starting place. Or perhaps you already love it; plenty of people do, because this has been one of my more popular menu items for years. The texture of this inexpensive meat is succulent and the flavor is rich and “beefy.” Braised tongue is common on many ethnic menus including French, Italian, Eastern European, and Spanish. The simple ingredients complement the flavor without covering it up. This Spanish tapas version of tongue is perfect as a first-course appetizer or salad. I like to serve it as a light dinner or Shabbat lunch, but it is also perfect for a Passover lunch or any time of the year.
One 3-pound tongue
1 large Spanish onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
1 whole head of garlic, cut in half horizontally
1 bay leaf
several thyme sprigs
several parsley sprigs
6 whole black peppercorns (about 1/4 teaspoon)
2 medium beets
neutral-flavored oil
4 cups frisée or other hearty lettuce torn into pieces
1 large fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
2 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, grated with a microplane
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon prepared white horseradish (sugar free)
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup neutral-flavored oil (you may not need all the oil)
freshly ground Gefen Black Pepper
Preheat the slow cooker to Low. Place the tongue, onion, carrot, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, parsley, and peppercorns into the slow cooker insert. Add water to cover. Cover and cook on Low for four to five hours. Remove the tongue from the liquid and set aside to cool. Discard the cooking liquid.
When the tongue is cool, peel off the outer skin and trim away the fatty underside.
Place a large sauté pan over medium heat. Lightly coat the bottom of the pan with olive oil. Brown the tongue on all sides. Refrigerate the tongue until it is completely cool.
While the tongue is cooking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat the beets lightly with oil, wrap in aluminum foil, and roast for one hour or until a knife pierces them easily. Remove from the oven and let cool. When cool, slip off the skins and slice the beets into about half-inch rounds.
Place the frisée on a platter. Arrange the beets, fennel, celery, carrots, and onion on the frisée. Thinly slice the tongue and arrange the slices on top of the vegetables.
Dollop some of the aïoli (recipe below) on top of the meat. Pass additional aïoli on the side.
Place the garlic, egg yolk, horseradish, water, and lemon juice in a large nonreactive bowl. Whisk together until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the oil while continually whisking. The mixture should resemble a loose mayonnaise. Add salt and pepper to taste.
You can also make this delicious aïoli in the food processor. Lightly pulse the garlic, egg yolk, horseradish, water, and lemon juice until combined. With the motor running, drizzle the oil in a steady stream until the mixture becomes thick and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve or store.
Makes about one cup
Reprinted with permission from Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes, 2nd ed. by Laura Frankel, Agate Surrey, 2015
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