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Birria Tacos

Course: Main Course

Ingredients

Meat

  • 1.5 lb beef shank
  • 1 lb sirloin or other roast/steak

Marinade

  • 3 dried guajillo peppers see notes
  • 1 can chipotle peppers in adobo
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin

Stew

  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 whole cloves
  • chicken stock to cover sodium free about 1 quart

Tacos

  • 4" flour tortillas as needed (or sub corn tortillas) 12-16
  • 1 medium onion chopped optional
  • 1 bunch cilantro chopped optional
  • 1 cup mexican cheese blend grated optional

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and then remove from heat. Soak your dried guajillo peppers for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cube your sirloin, then season both the steak and the shank with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • Add marinade ingredients to the blender. When the peppers are done soaking, hold them by the tip over the sink and use scissors to cut the stem off and allow the seeds to fall out, then add to blender. Blend the marinade into a smooth paste. Marinate the meats for a minimum of two hours or up to overnight.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, add 1-2 tbsp oil, then saute the onions until golden and translucent (6-8 minutes).
  • Add the meats, marinade, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and cloves to the pot. Cover with chicken broth, If using a slow cooker or stovetop, set to low heat for 4-6 hours. If using an Instant pot, cook 45 minutes on high pressure.
  • When meat is done, remove the meat from the stew - reserve the broth. Shred the meat and set aside, and discard the bones.
  • Warm up some tortillas, then dip the tortillas in the stew. Build your tacos, top with any optional toppings, then fry over medium heat on a nonstick skillet. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

If you can’t find dried guajillo peppers, sub any dried mexican/southwestern peppers you can find, such as ancho, new mexico, california, or pasilla.