Beef tongue with madeira vegetable stew

2021-08-08

This is an easy vegetable stew that could be interpreted as a French Madeira sauce enhanced with the added potatoes and carrots to make it a full meal OR as a Mexican potato & tomato stew enhanced with the added carrots and Madeira.

A. the madeira vegetable & tomato stew

This stew/sauce is VERY tomatoey. If you do not want (that many) tomatoes, cook the beef tongue first, prepare Madeira sauce as a velouté, then add the stewed mushrooms, potatoes & carrots to the velouté sauce, no (or fewer) tomatoes and/or tomato paste.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 4+ servings:

1/2 medium onion
3 medium potatoes
4-8 oz. button mushrooms
1 large carrot
S&P
8 roma tomatoes
3 cups beef broth
4 oz. tomato paste
1 shot glass Madeira wine

Pic1: Madeira vegetable tomato stew

Directions

2021-08-08

Pic2: onion, potato, mushrooms, carrot
Pic3: stir-fry
Pic4: stew

Cut the vegetables small.
Stir-fry for 5 minutes over high heat.
Add 2-3 cups beef broth.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Pic5: chop tomatoes
Pic6: add tomatoes
Pic7: stew

Quarter or chop the tomatoes.
Add to the vegetable stew.
Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
Stir occasionally.
If necessary, add beef broth to prevent from drying too much and burning.

Pic8: with tomato paste
Pic9: Madeira wine
Pic10: served

If desired, stir in tomato paste to thicken the sauce. Simmer 5 more minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the madeira wine.
Do not boil / simmer further. The Madeira will lose its typical flavor very quickly.
Serve and enjoy.

B. pressure-cooked beef tongue

Pressure-cooking beef tongue enhances the flavor compared to boiling it for 3-4 hrs. in a big pot of water. If you have a decent pressure-cooker, it also shortens the cooking time considerably.

I remarked today that we're not eating beef tongue nearly as often as before Covid.
The prices have nearly doubled since last year, from mostly under $20 to well over $30 each.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 4+ servings:

1 beef tongue, 2-4 lb.
S&P
pressure cooker

Pic11: beef tongue

Directions

2021-08-08

Pic12: getting started
Pic13: cooking
Pic14: all done, peeled

Place the beef tongue in pressure cooker.
Add up to 2 qts. water, S&P, seasoning to taste.
Bring to a roiling boil. Place the lid on top and wait 3-5 minutes before lowering the pressure weight.
After weight starts hissing high, reduce heat to maintain a constant low hiss.
Cook for 50-70 minutes, depending on altitude and pressure.
Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Optional: place in cold water bath for quick-releasing the pressure.
Only open the pot when the pressure has fully equalized with the room.
Remove, peel and slice the tongue.

Pic15: broth
Pic16+17: sliced & served

If cooked in advance, the broth can be used to prepare the stew/sauce.
Serve together with the vegetable stew.
Enjoy.

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org