Description
This authentic birria recipe is a flavorful and comforting Mexican stew featuring tender, slow-cooked beef in a rich and aromatic chili sauce. Perfect for serving with warm corn tortillas and your favorite toppings for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef:
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast (or a mix of chuck and short ribs), cut into large chunks
For the Chili Sauce:
- 5 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 3 dried ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 2 dried pasilla chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 1 medium white onion, halved
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1–2 cups water (as needed)
For Serving:
- corn tortillas
- chopped white onion and fresh cilantro
- lime wedges
Instructions
- To Prepare the Chili Sauce: Toast the dried chiles in a dry skillet until fragrant; soak in hot water. Roast onion, garlic, and tomatoes until charred. Blend soaked chiles with roasted vegetables, vinegar, oregano, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Strain the sauce.
- To Cook the Beef: Sear beef in a pot, pour in the chili sauce, beef broth, bay leaves, and water. Simmer covered for 3 to 3½ hours until tender. Shred beef and return to the broth.
- To Serve: Enjoy the birria with warm tortillas, chopped onions, cilantro, and lime wedges.
Notes
- For a more traditional version, goat meat can be used instead of beef.
- This dish is versatile and can be served as a stew or used as a filling for various dishes like tacos, quesabirria, or tortas.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop, Braising
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg