Crock Pot Tongue With Capers

All-Natural-Nut's Note:

This recipe is from a NYTimes article; "adapted from Elisabeth Bourgeois of Le Mas de Tourteron restaurant." After my hubby has declared on many occasions that he would "never even THINK about eating Tongue," I made this for my daughter and myself. It didn't look anything like Tongue, so I fibbed and said to hubby that it was a veal roast. He actually WANTED it when he saw the incredible presentation, and when he tried it, he RANTED and RAVED for an hour, saying multiple times that I had to make that again. It was very hard for me to keep from smirking. :) Let's keep this between us, eh? I'd like to continue feeding this to my family as a "veal roast" for years to come!

• Total Time: 12 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 12 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 (3 -4 lb) beef tongues , fresh, washed
• 1 carrot , medium
• 1 onion , medium, peeled
• 6 cloves
• 1 celery rib
• 1 leek , trimmed
• 1 orange, zest of , grated peel only
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• 5 peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons coarse salt
• 1⁄3; cup butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• ½ cup tomato , small, peeled and pureed
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 4 tablespoons capers
• 1 bunch fresh parsley , minced

Directions:

1. In a large crock pot, add 4 qts water. add tongue and cook on high for a couple hours. remove tongue and throw out water.
2. Now add 4 qts of fresh water, carrot, onion pierced with cloves, celery, leek, orange peel, vinegar, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns, salt, tongue, and cook on low 8-10 hours.
3. Before tongue finishes cooking, melt butter in a saute pan. Add flour, stirring to make a roux. add about 1 cup tongue cooking water, the tomato, wine, remaining vinegar, capers and a little salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes over a low heat, until sauce reduces a bit. adjust salt and pepper to taste.
4. When tongue is done, remove, and peel skin with point of a knife. Then cut tongue on a diagonal in slices about 1/4 inch thick and arrange on serving platter. Pour sauce over slices and sprinkle with parsley.
5. [If you don't have a crock pot, the same recipe can be made by cooking in a large pot on the stove. First boil for 20 minutes, then with fresh water, boil then simmer for 2 hours.].