Calf language: benefits, harm and recipes
Beef tongue is a by-product, but this does not make it less popular in cooking.In the market, such a delicacy is cheap, but still it is worthy to decorate the table for the holiday, you only need to use one of the recipes.
Useful properties and harm
When it comes to offal, not everyone is willing to eat them because of the simple disgust. Some people simply don’t like the idea of using a cow tongue, and it’s also worth considering that it contains high cholesterol, which is why it isn’t recommended for people with diseases of the heart system. However, besides the cholesterol content, there are many useful trace elements in the product. One of the important compounds necessary for maintaining immunity is zinc, and the cow’s tongue is rich in them. It has such beneficial trace elements as potassium and sodium.
In this way, Consumption of the described by-product in accordance with the recommendations of the doctors is beneficial for the body, since it helps to strengthen the work of the immune system. Diseases caused by viruses and bacteria recede, reducing the risk of infection.
Veal tongue is rich in iron and vitamin B12. These two compounds play an important role in the hemoglobin production process. It is a type of protein that plays a role in the movement of oxygen through the blood and its further distribution between parts of the body. It is well known that a deficiency of iron and vitamin B12 leads to a problem known as anemia. Fatigue is the first sign of iron deficiency. This is because the brain does not receive enough oxygen due to disturbances in the distribution of red blood cells.
Most people think that to accelerate wound healing, you need to use special drugs. In fact, such medical products are used to prevent the development of further infection caused by bacteria or viruses. Sufficient zinc intake is one way to accelerate wound healing, and a cow's calf tongue contains a large amount of it. Cell regeneration requires two major components - oxygen and red blood cells.
Since the language is rich in zinc and iron - this is what is needed to speed up cell regeneration. Moreover, regular consumption of the cow’s tongue can provide the necessary amount of choline. Thanks to this component and vitamin B12, the nervous system works normally, it is stable and the person copes with stress and depression better.
Important! Veal tongue should be consumed in moderation due to its fat content and cholesterol.
How to distinguish from the pig?
It is not so easy to distinguish veal tongue from swine, especially if there is no experience. It should be said that beef is larger in size, but if it is a small animal, this is where the problem of choice arises. Experts advise to pay attention to the cooking time, since to fully cook the beef will need to cook longer. On average, pork will be ready for use in two hours, and calf - in four hours.
Beef product fibers are more dense, it smells like meat, the pig texture is softer and may not have flavor. They differ in cost, as the pork product is not so expensive. In cooked form, the difference is almost not felt.
How to cook?
To prepare the calf tongue, the following ingredients are required:
- tongue;
- ½ cup of oil;
- 2 cups white onion, cut into thin strips;
- 1 glass of tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped;
- ½ cup ground hot red pepper;
- ½ cup parsley, finely chopped;
- ½ tsp ground cumin;
- 1 teaspoon crumbled oregano;
- ½ tsp of ground pepper;
- 1 cup green peas;
- 4 cups broth;
- 1 tablespoon salt.
Before you prepare the tongue, you will need to soften it - for this it is beaten with a hammer. Pour water into a large saucepan and put on a strong fire to boil. After the bubbles appear, put the tongue. Cook for two hours until soft. Take out the product, let it cool and remove the skin, which is not eaten.Then cut into thin slices.
Pour oil into a frying pan and put on a strong fire. As soon as it becomes quite hot, pour onions, fry it. Add tomato, hot red pepper, parsley, cumin, oregano, ground pepper, peas, broth and, finally, salt. Stir well and stew for an hour until the mixture becomes thick. Put the tongue pieces into the frying pan, mix well and let the dish brew a little, until the product takes the flavor from the sauce. Served hot with boiled potatoes or steamed rice.
If this spicy dish is not to your liking, then you can make a veal tongue using the following ingredients:
- tongue;
- leek;
- 1/2 normal onion;
- 3 carrots;
- black pepper and other seasonings;
- 1 tomato;
- flour;
- 2-3 eggs;
- salt.
Cut the vegetables into large pieces and place them in a saucepan with enough water so that the liquid completely covers them. Veal tongue is boiled in another pan for two hours, then skin is removed from it. Cut as thin as possible. Vegetables are also boiled in a saucepan, mashed with the help of a blender. Next make a breading mixture for the tongue, it consists of raw whipped eggs and flour. Each piece is dipped in the mixture and fried in a pan, then spread in a saucepan with vegetable puree and stew for a few more minutes. The total cooking time is three hours.
See below for a recipe for making jellied calf tongue.