Beef heart is an underutilized yet nutrient-dense and flavorful cut of meat It has a texture similar to steak and a rich, meaty taste While the thought of eating heart may seem unappealing to some, with proper preparation, beef heart can make for a tasty and healthy addition to your diet.
In this article, I’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to clean, trim, and cook beef heart. I’ll also share a few mouthwatering beef heart recipe ideas to help you enjoy this nutritious organ meat.
An Overview of Beef Heart
The heart of a cow is dense, chewy, and similar to a very lean cut of steak or roast. Beef heart typically weighs around 3-4 pounds and contains multiple chambers and tough muscles that require trimming.
Nutritionally, beef heart contains high amounts of protein, iron, CoQ10, zinc, selenium and B vitamins like vitamin B12. It is also low in fat and calories, making it a lean source of nutrients.
When it comes to taste, beef heart has a rich, beefy flavor that is slightly stronger than regular muscle meat. It pairs well with robust seasonings and wines. The meat holds up well to braising, grilling, pan-frying, and stewing.
Step 1: Cleaning and Trimming the Beef Heart
Before cooking beef heart, it’s important to clean it thoroughly and trim away any unwanted fat, membranes or connective tissue. Here is a step-by-step process:
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Rinse the beef heart under cold running water. This removes any blood or debris.
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Trim away any visible fat on the outside of the heart.
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Slice the heart open to expose the chambers inside.
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Remove the tough tendons and membranes surrounding the chambers.
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Cut out the valves and arteries. Discard any gristly bits.
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Rinse the trimmed heart again.
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Slice the heart into 1⁄2 to 1 inch thick slices or cubes depending on the recipe.
Proper cleaning and trimming ensures you have tender, tasty pieces of beef heart to cook.
Step 2: Cooking Methods for Beef Heart
There are several methods for cooking beef heart that result in delicious outcomes. Here are some of the most popular techniques:
Pan-Frying or Grilling
Slice the trimmed beef heart into 1⁄2 inch steaks. Season them generously with salt and pepper. Coat with a bit of oil. Grill the steaks for 3-4 minutes per side over high heat until browned. Baste with butter and cook to medium-rare doneness. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Braising
Cut beef heart into 1-inch cubes. Coat the cubes with flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Sear the cubes briefly in a hot pan with oil to brown them. Then add beef broth and vegetables to the pan. Simmer covered for 1-2 hours until very tender. The braising liquid makes a wonderful sauce.
Slow Cooker
Place 1-inch beef heart cubes in a slow cooker. Add diced onions, beef stock, garlic, and seasonings. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until the beef shreds easily with a fork. Shred and serve on buns or over mashed potatoes.
Stew
For a hearty beef heart stew, cut the meat into 1-inch pieces. Build flavor by browning the cubes in batches in a pot along with aromatics like garlic and onions. Add broth, vegetables, and seasonings and simmer for 1-2 hours until tender.
Ground
Chop or grind beef heart to mix into patties, chili, Bolognese sauce, or anywhere you’d use ground beef. Mix in a ratio of 75% ground beef to 25% ground heart.
Step 3: Flavorful Recipe Ideas
Beef heart pairs well with robust spices, herbs, wines, and sauces. Here are some tasty recipe ideas:
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Beef Heart Skewers – Inspired by Brazilian churrasco, marinate beef heart in a chimichurri sauce. Thread on skewers with veggies. Grill to medium rare.
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Wine-Braised Beef Heart – Braise cubed heart in red wine with pearl onions, carrots, and celery until fork tender. Serve over mashed potatoes.
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Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef Heart – Make the meat layer using 1 part beef heart and 2 parts ground beef. Top with mashed potatoes and bake.
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Beef Heart Chili – Use half ground beef and half beef heart for a nutrient dense chili. Top with avocado, onion and cheddar cheese.
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Beef Heart Steak Salad – Grill marinated heart steaks to medium rare. Thinly slice and add to a salad with greens, tomatoes and blue cheese dressing.
Tips for Cooking Beef Heart
Follow these tips for ensuring delicious results when cooking beef heart:
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Trim the heart thoroughly of all fat, silverskin and gristle so only tender meat remains.
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Cut against the grain of the meat for tenderness.
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Marinate heart slices or cubes for added moisture and flavor.
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Cook quickly over high heat or low and slow via braising or stewing.
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Don’t overcook. Cook to medium rare for best texture.
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Let roasted or grilled heart rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing to retain juices.
The Benefits of Adding Beef Heart to Your Diet
Beef heart provides an array of nutritional benefits:
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Excellent source of iron, zinc, selenium and B vitamins
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High in muscle-building protein (24g per 3oz)
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Contains the antioxidant CoQ10 for heart health
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Low in fat, cholesterol and calories
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Cost-effective and sustainable organ meat option
What is the best way to cook beef heart for my dog?
Boiling is a great way to cook beef heart for dogs. Cut it into small chunks and simmer in water for 30 minutes.
Beef Heart Recipe for the Slow Cooker
Slow-cooked beef heart is the way to go if you want maximum flavor and minimal effort. This tender, juicy dish is melt-in-the-mouth delicious and easy to make.
Simply toss your marinated beef heart strips into the slow cooker and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and oregano. Then, add beef broth or stock and chopped onions, then leave for 4-6 hours, cooking on high.
How to prepare and cook a Beef Heart / Ox Heart super tasty
FAQ
How do I cook beef heart?
Beef Heart Recipe for the Grill
After marinating, place your beef heart strips on a hot grill. Cook each side for about 2-3 minutes until the meat has a crisp, brown crust on the edges. Serve medium-rare for a velvety, tender meal.
How should heart be cooked?
Cook your heart either very quickly to a medium rare at most to avoid it toughening. Alternatively, give it a very long, low and slow braise in a stew. Anything in between and you will toughen it beyond belief and ruin it!
Is beef heart good eating?
very meaty, and for three it is tasty. Oh, and also, it’s pretty good for you from a nutritional standpoint since beef hearts are great for YOUR heart (there’s no doubt some irony there) plus it is rich with protein, amino acids, B-complex vitamins, as well as phosphorus, iron, zinc, and selenium.
Is beef heart tender or tough?
Beef Heart cooks up easily in the Instant Pot and is a tender, mild-flavored organ meat that is rich in CoQ10, protein, B12, folate, and more.
Can you cook a whole beef heart?
A lot of people do, however, cook beef heart to medium rare only. If you are cooking a whole beef heart, you will probably need two large skillets or cook half at a time. Beef hearts are an extremely lean piece of meat but also tender, so either slow cooking or searing it on the grill or in a cast-iron skillet really is the way to go.
What is a heart healthy diet?
A heart healthy diet consists of a combination of different foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. Cut down on salty meats such as ham, bacon, tocino, sausage, hotdog, as well as salty food such as dried fish.
How long do you cook a beef heart?
Boil until reduced to a glaze (5-6 minutes), then remove from heat and whisk in olive oil, season to taste and set aside. Drain the beef heart, pat dry with paper towels, rub with a little oil, then grill, turning every 2 minutes, until medium-rare and internal temperature reaches 55C on a meat thermometer (8-12 minutes).