Description
Birria is a traditional Mexican stew that is deeply flavorful and aromatic, often made with goat, beef, or lamb. This dish is slow-cooked to perfection, resulting in tender meat that is infused with a complex blend of chiles, spices, and herbs. Birria can be served as a stew or used as a filling for tacos, especially popular as birria tacos, which are often dipped in the savory broth.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Birria (Birria de Rez)
- 4 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 3-inch chunks
Birria Sauce
- 10 guajillo chiles
- 5 ancho chilies
- 3 arbol chilies
- 2 Roma tomatoes
- 1 white onion, quartered
- 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 bay leaves
- Optional: chopped onion, cilantro, and lime wedges for serving.
Instructions
- Deseed the chilies. Slice the stems off the chilies and shake out the seeds. Then, give them a quick rinse to remove any dust or dirt from the outside.
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Simmer the chilies. In a medium pot, add the guajillo chilies, ancho chilies, arbol chilies. Cover completely with water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 15 minutes, until the chilies have softened.
- Roast the veggies. While the chilies are simmering, add the tomatoes, onion, and garlic cloves to a quarter sheet pan. Broil them for 4 to 6 minutes, until lightly charred.
- Make the sauce. Transfer the chilies and 1 cup of the remaining water to a high-powered blender. Remove the garlic from it’s peel and add it to the blender along with the tomatoes, onion, broth, vinegar, cumin, oregano, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes, until completely smooth.
- Slow cook the birria. Place the beef chunks in the slow cooker. Pour the birria sauce on top, and add the bay leaves. Use tongs to gently mix it all together. then cover. Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours. The beef should be tender and fall apart easily when shredded with a fork. If it doesn’t shred easily, cook it a bit longer.
- Shred the meat. Discard the bay leaves. Remove the beef to a cutting board and use two forks to shred it.
- Combine the meat and sauce. Place the shredded beef back in the slow cooker, give it a stir, and let it absorb the liquid (aka consommé).
- Serve. Serve the birria straight from the slow cooker for a variety of meals (see ideas above) or transfer to bowls with the consommé for a traditional birria stew. Garnish with chopped onion, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.
Notes
- Adjusting Spice Level: The heat of the birria can be modified by varying the types and quantity of chiles used. For a milder version, reduce the number of guajillo chiles.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve birria with warm corn tortillas, fresh lime wedges, chopped onions, and cilantro for a traditional experience.
- Cooking Tip: For an even richer flavor, marinate the meat overnight before slow-cooking.
- Instant Pot Option: If you’re short on time, an Instant Pot can be used to cook the birria, significantly reducing the cooking time while maintaining the dish’s signature tenderness.