Description
Authentic Birria Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish featuring tender, slow-cooked beef simmered in a rich, flavorful sauce made from dried chiles and aromatic spices. Served in warm corn tortillas and garnished with fresh cilantro and lime, these tacos offer a delicious mix of smoky, savory, and tangy flavors, perfect for a cozy meal or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into chunks
- 2 dried guajillo chiles, seeds removed
- 2 dried ancho chiles, seeds removed
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 4 cups beef broth
- 12 small corn tortillas
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Chile Broth: Heat a pot over medium heat and toast the dried guajillo and ancho chiles until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add garlic, quartered onion, and beef broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let cook gently for 20 minutes to develop deep flavors.
- Blend the Sauce: Transfer the cooked chiles, garlic, onion, and broth to a blender. Blend until smooth and silky. Then season the sauce with apple cider vinegar, ground cumin, dried oregano, and ground cloves, mixing thoroughly to combine all the spices evenly.
- Slow Cook the Beef: Place the beef chunks in a slow cooker and pour the blended sauce over them. Set the cooker on low and cook the beef for 6 hours, or until it becomes very tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Assemble the Tacos: Once the beef is ready, heat the corn tortillas on a griddle or skillet until warm and pliable. Shred the tender beef and fill each tortilla generously with the meat.
- Serve and Garnish: Garnish the birria tacos with freshly chopped cilantro and accompany with lime wedges. Serve alongside a small bowl of the warm cooking broth (consommé) for dipping the tacos to enhance flavor.
Notes
- Remove seeds from dried chiles to reduce bitterness and control spiciness.
- Use a slow cooker or a heavy pot with low heat for tender, flavorful meat.
- Adjust the number of tortillas based on appetite and serving size.
- Consommé is optional but recommended as it enhances the taco experience.
- For extra heat, add a finely chopped serrano chile to the sauce before blending.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco (with beef and tortilla)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
