Birria Tacos
Birria Tacos are a classical Mexican taco bursting with flavor like no other! A beefy tasty Birria stew is made and then used to stuff and dip the tacos in--Full guide to Birria tacos recipe with video!
Ingredients
Birria Meat
- 1.5 lb beef chuck with or without bone
Birria Sauce & Marinade
- 4 Guajillo chiles soaked in 1 cup hot boiling water
- 1 can chipotle in adobo
- 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup vinegar white
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 1/2 teaspoon oregano Mexican oregano is best
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper more or less to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes optional for extra heat
Birria Stew
- 2 onions diced
- 1 tablepsoon oil
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 cinnamon stick whole
- 5 cloves whole
- 2 cups stock chicken, beef or veggies
Birria Tacos
- 24 mini tortillas flour or corn, plain or flavored
- 2 cups cheese Monterey, cheddar or your favorite
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1 white onion diced finely
- 2 jalapenos sliced (optional for extra heat)
Instructions
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Start by soaking your Guajillo chiles in the hot water in a bowl and cover the bowl with a plastic wrap so it softens up.
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Once the pepper are softened, they're ready to use. Usually this takes around 15 minutes.
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In a blender add all the marinade ingredients.
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Add to them the soaked and ready Guajillo chiles.
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Blend until smooth and silky.
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Coat the meat with the blender sauce and marinade or proceed with the recipe.
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You can marinate the meat for upto 12 hours.
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To make the birria stew: sautee the onions with the oil.
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You can use an instant pot or large stovetop pan.
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Once the onions are translucent, add in the meat and sauce mixture all at once.
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Add to that the whole spices.
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Then add in the stock and cook the stew.
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For instant pot --select pressure high and cook for 40 minutes.
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For stove top -- cover the pot and cook for 1 hour and a half.
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If you want to bake the birria -- place all ingredients with onions in an oven safe dish and cover the dish with foil. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 1 hour and half.
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The stew is ready when the meat comes out tender.
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Preserve the sauce and set aside.
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Take the meat and use a fork to shred it into fine shreds on a wooden board.
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Add the meat to bowl along with 3 ladles of the reserved sauce to flavor up the meat.
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Make the tacos: Dip each tortilla into the reserved sauce to flavor it up. Make sure to quickly dip and remove the tortilla-- this will prevent it from being soggy.
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In a heavy duty pan, place the coated tortilla in to the pan and add cheese over half of the tortilla.
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Pile up the meat over the cheese.
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Fold over the tortilla to cover the meat and press it down.
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flip the tacos when ready and golden and allow it to sear on both sides a total of 5 minutes.
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Sprinkle the tacos with cilantros and jalapeños
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For the dipping sauce : take 2 cups of the reserved birria stew sauce nd add to it the onions and remianing cilantro.
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Serve the birria tacos with the dipping sauce!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Birria Tacos TIPS + Q&A
- Use Beef chuck for the best tasting recipe! They have the perfect taste, level of fat and the meat cooks so beautifully!
- Look for Guajillo chillies at your ethnic aisle or from a Mexican store--they are a crucial flavor to the sauce.
- Add in more spice to your taste such as chilli flakes to the sauce
- Marinade the meat for up to 24 hours--the more the better. However you may still proceed without any if you're rushed.
- this recipe can be ade in an instant pot (saving you half the cooking time), however it works just as well in the oven (in an oven safe dish covered with foil at 400 degrees F). You may slo cook the meat on the stove.
- Make sure to keep the sauce when the met is ready as it will be used to dip the tacos in!
- The tortillas have to be dipped in the sauce for that distinct orange color!
- Use your favorite cheese here!
- Freeze the remaining meat and sauce and have birria tacos next time in a breeze!
What do Birria tacos taste like?
Birria tacos have a unique taste which is why people can't get enough of them. The tortilla is smothered in the sauce and then fried on the griddle until nice and crispy. The tender meat of birria makes for a great filling and gives it a sweet, savory, and spicy taste. The birria sauce can also be used as a dipping sauce and takes the taste to another level. Bursting with so many flavors, the birria taco is an ultimate treat for Mexican cuisine lovers.
What is Birria tacos sauce made of?
Birria sauce is a rich and palatable concoction of rich spices, herbs, guajillo, chipotle peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. The sauce is cooked to perfection and then added to the chuck meat to give the beef more flavor. It is also served as the dipping sauce once the tacos are ready to serve.
What is used for Birria meat?
Goat meat was preferred originally, but over the years, the birria recipe has evolved. Nowadays, you can use any type of meat according to your preference. I like beef chuck meat personally to make the stew. When it is tender, I simply shred it using a fork. Chuck meat is affordable and gets tender quickly, which is why I prefer it. You can use veal, beef, goat, or pork as well.
What do Birria tacos contain?
Birria tacos are simple to make, and they taste delicious. The meaty flavor of juicy beef, the spiciness of chilies, the tangy taste of onions, and the crunchy corn tortillas make birria tacos a dish that can be savored at weddings, parties, get-togethers, and even at home for breakfast.
Why are they called birria tacos?
During the conquest of Mexico, the Spanish conquerors looked down upon goat meat because of its strong smell and hard texture. So they decided to give goats to the Mexicans. Unlike their masters, Mexican people happily accepted the goat meat and made it appetizing by adding different sauces and herbs to it. The dishes produced by Mexicans were termed as ''Birria'' meaning worthless in Spanish, as the goat meat was worthless to the Spanish conquerors.
Why are Birria tacos red?
Birria tacos are also called red tacos because of their bright red color. The tacos are dipped in a sauce that has a menagerie of spices and then fried on the skillet over medium heat, which gives the tacos their signature red color.
How do you make birria tacos crunchy?
Crunchy, crispy, spicy- that's how tacos should be. Eating soggy tacos is not the way to eat tacos at all. To make your birria de res tacos crunchy, I am gonna share a trick with you. Using tongs, dip the corn tortillas in the sauce where the fat is floating. Now place the tacos on the griddle, press it nicely, and let them fry in the grease until it's crispy and red. Top it off with onions and cilantro, shredded meat, and some Oaxaca cheese.
What is birria dipping sauce?
Birria dipping sauce is served with birria beef tacos. You can dip the tacos in it and enjoy the savory, spicy flavor. Birria dipping sauce is made from dried chilies, annatto paste, onion, tomatoes, and spices and is pretty appetizing.
Are Birria tacos made with corn or flour tortillas?
Birria tacos are made from corn tortillas that are filled with shredded birria meat.