We've written quite a bit on ways to use up every bit of an animal. Many of those methods are time-honored traditions, like chitlins and head cheese. As we're headed into deer season again here in the United States, we thought we'd give you another tip on how to cook nose-to-tail. Whether you're hunting yourself or the beneficiary of a family member or friend who likes to hunt whitetail deer, you'll want to know about cooking deer tongue.
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Deer tongue, like beef tongue, may get a weird look from people who have ever eaten it before. You shouldn't be turned off, though! It's tasty and cooks up well in a number of different dishes. Let's look at the best way to cook deer tongue.
Is Deer Tongue Healthy?
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A deer's tongue, unlike the rest of the deer, is high in fat. The fat content means that the tongue tastes great. And though you might think that high-fat meat is unhealthy, tongue is high in monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid, which is the same healthy fatty acid found in nuts and olive oil.
How to Cook Deer Tongue
The most important thing to remember when cooking a deer tongue or venison tongue is to remove the skin from the tongue. Otherwise, the meat will be too tough to cook.
According to the good folks at Outdoor Life, the best way to cook deer tongue is to simmer it in stock for at least 90 minutes. This process tenderizes the tongue, making it easier to remove the top layer of skin. You can also cook the tongue in a slow cooker on low for 10-12 hours, then remove the skin and shred for use.
Once you've removed the skin, you can shred or chop the tongue into small pieces and use it in your favorite venison recipe. It works great as part of a breakfast hash, fried up with potatoes, peppers, and onions. It's delicious seared and seasoned for tacos.
However, you use this excellent piece of wild game, make sure you season it well. Salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, peppers or chilies all make any deer meat taste even better.
