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Mexican Birria Recipe

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Authentic Birria is a traditional Mexican stew made with beef braised in a rich red chile broth (consomé). Flavorful, hearty, and deeply spiced, it can be served as a stew or transformed into crispy quesabirria tacos.

  • Author: Tina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Braising
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Halal

Ingredients

4 lbs chuck roast (or beef short ribs/oxtail)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

6 dried guajillo chiles

3 dried ancho chiles

2–3 dried arbol chiles (optional, for heat)

2 Roma tomatoes

1 large yellow onion, halved

1 Mexican cinnamon stick (or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon)

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

4 cups beef broth

1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

6 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons Mexican oregano (or regular oregano)

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

  1. Season beef chunks with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven and sear beef until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
  2. In a pot, add guajillo, ancho, and arbol chiles, tomatoes, onion, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Cover with water, bring to a boil, then simmer 10 minutes until softened.
  3. Transfer softened chiles, tomatoes, and aromatics to a blender. Add 1 cup chile-soaking water, beef broth, vinegar, garlic, cumin, oregano, and cloves. Blend until smooth (strain if desired).
  4. Pour the sauce over the seared beef in the Dutch oven. Stir, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 3–3½ hours, until beef is tender.
  5. Remove beef, shred with two forks, then return to the consomé. Adjust seasoning with salt as needed.
  6. Serve hot as a stew with chopped onion, cilantro, and lime, or use for tacos with cheese.

Notes

  • Adjust spiciness by changing the amount of arbol chiles.
  • Goat or lamb can be used instead of beef for a more traditional version.
  • Birria can also be made in an Instant Pot (60 minutes on high) or a slow cooker (7–8 hours on low).
  • Strain the sauce for a smoother broth if desired.
  • Leftovers can be turned into quesabirria tacos, birria ramen, or birria nachos.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cheftinaskitchen.com/mexican-birria-recipe/