Braised Beef Heart Recipe (Slow Cook)

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Serve savory braised beef heart over slow-cooked cabbage and parsnip for the ultimate organ meat experience. Using a Dutch oven and simmering the meat in a mustard broth sauce is the best way to slow cook beef heart. This one-pot meal is naturally low-carb and keto-friendly.

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What is Braising?

Braising is an incredible way of transforming food from its raw form to a succulent, savory finish. You can braise vegetables as we do in this side dish for Easy Braised Cabbage recipe and all types of meat.

In the same style as slow cooking, braising uses a liquid medium for cooking the ingredients over low heat for several hours. Instead of a crockpot, you can use a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with a lid. Depending on the recipe, you may cook either on the stovetop or in the oven.

If you’re cooking on a budget, you should also be braising because it’s an ideal prep method for tough (but cheap) cuts of meat. Once you know braising basics and you can adapt to beef, chicken, pork, duck, and other meats.

I find this technique ideal for meaty bones and large roasts. Braised Beef Shank is a family favorite you won’t want to miss.

Read on about more important cooking terms for preparing meat and broaden your culinary horizons.

How to Slow Cook Beef Heart by Braising

Braising is a great way to keep meat tender while slowly breaking down collagen and thick muscle fibers over a period of hours at low temperature. It’s quicker than using a slow cooker or crockpot but still gives a nice succulent finish.

The original inspiration came from a recipe on food.com, but I wanted a healthier low-carb option without a premade soup mix, vegetable oil, or breadcrumbs.

Get your ingredients and then prepare for making the best recipe for beef heart!

Ingredients

Butter – We use this for searing the meat. Choose a dairy-free option like olive oil if you prefer.

Beef heart – Use a whole grass-fed beef heart which will be about 3 pounds. I keep the fat on, but you can trim it off if you prefer.

Herbs and spices – Combine parsley, celery seed, paprika, and finish off with salt and pepper. Fresh or dried herbs will both work. I buy organic herbs and spices in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Vegetables – Yellow onion makes the recipe a little sweet, while red onion adds a sharper spicy accent. Green cabbage and parsnip add yummy vegetables to the mix while still keeping carbs low.

Bone broth – I use homemade beef bone broth since it matches the meat better than chicken broth. You can make your own or buy a shelf-stable broth in bulk and store it in your pantry until you need it. It never hurts to keep on hand.

Dijon mustard – Don’t skip this! Dijon mustard is the secret ingredient that makes an irresistible sauce.

Step-By-Step Directions

Rinse the heart under cold water. Then, trim off any connective tissue or gristle around the heart. Leave the fat on. Roll into a roast and tie in place with butcher’s twine.

Watch a video on exactly how to tie a butcher’s knot. Following along with this visual guide helped me so much!

Add butter (or dairy-free oil) to the Dutch oven and sear the beef heart over high heat on the stovetop. 

Rub seasoning herbs, salt, and pepper over the meat. Don’t add the herbs before you sear because they can burn easily. 

Toss onion, cabbage, and parsnip in the pot.

Pour in broth. Whisk mustard into the liquid. 

Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 4 hours over a very low flame. Use tongs and flip the heart every hour. 

I had to use the smallest burner on my stove at the lowest setting while keeping the lid slightly cracked. Avoid boiling for too hard and cooking at too high a temperature, both mistakes will result in overcooked meat.

Once you’re ready to serve, slice heart lengthwise from top to bottom and serve on a bed of cooked vegetables with additional mustard, if desired. 

Spoon the sauce over cooked beef heart and vegetables. It’s so delicious, you won’t want to waste a drop!

Finally, if there’s anything leftover, store the recipe in an air-tight container for three to five days in the fridge. Alternatively, move it to the freezer and keep for up to three months.

Heart Recipe FAQ

I understand you might have some questions, particularly if cooking beef heart is new to you or you’ve never worked with organ meats before. Let me answer some common queries and clarify the process for you.

If not, search through the directories listed in How to Find Quality Foods for local suppliers near you or buy grass-fed beef heart online from US Wellness.

More Beef Heart Recipes

Since beef heart is such a great source of nutrition, it’s worth finding enjoyable ways of eating it. Heart contains notable amounts of namely protein, fat, CoQ10, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, choline, and selenium. (1, 2)

Take a look at these other offal recipes for more inspiration!

• Organ Meat Pie
• Beef Offal Stew
• Beef Heart Meatballs
• Beef Heart Tacos
• Ground Beef Heart Burgers
• Bunless Burger with Beef Heart

You can also learn how to make beef cheeks and explore more delicious, underappreciated cuts of beef.