Birria

Dive into the rich and savory world of authentic birria, a traditional Mexican stew known for its tender, shredded beef and complex layers of smoky, spicy, and aromatic flavors. This recipe features a robust marinade made from a blend of guajillo, ancho, and pasilla chiles, paired with fragrant spices like cinnamon, cloves, and oregano, delivering unforgettable depth. The beef is slow-cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, soaking up every nuance of the chile-infused sauce. Serve this birria with warm corn tortillas for tacos, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and a side of its luscious, spiced broth for dipping or sipping. Whether you're hosting a feast or craving comfort food, this traditional birria recipe is a must-try and showcases the essence of Mexican cuisine at its finest!

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:240 mins

Total Time:270 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 6 pieces dried guajillo chiles
• 4 pieces dried ancho chiles
• 2 pieces dried pasilla chiles
• 4 cups water
• 3 pounds boneless beef chuck
• 1 medium white onion
• 6 pieces garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 piece cinnamon stick
• 2 pieces bay leaves
• 4 pieces cloves
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 cup fresh cilantro
• 12 pieces corn tortillas
• 2 pieces lime

Directions

Step 1

Start by removing the seeds and stems from the dried guajillo, ancho, and pasilla chiles. Rinse the chiles under cold water.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the chiles and remove the saucepan from heat. Let the chiles soak for 15 minutes, until softened.

Step 3

While the chiles are soaking, cut the beef chuck into large chunks, approximately 2-inch cubes.

Step 4

Peel and quarter the onion.

Step 5

Peel the garlic cloves.

Step 6

Once the chiles are softened, transfer them to a blender, along with the soaking liquid.

Step 7

Add the onion, garlic cloves, ground cumin, oregano, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, cloves, black peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, and salt to the blender. Blend until smooth to create the marinade sauce.

Step 8

In a large pot or Dutch oven, place the beef chunks and pour the chile marinade over the top. Ensure the beef is completely covered.

Step 9

Cover the pot and let the beef marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.

Step 10

After marinating, place the pot on the stove and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

Step 11

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for approximately 4 hours, or until the beef is tender and easily shreddable.

Step 12

Remove the beef from the pot and shred it using two forks.

Step 13

Strain the cooking liquid to remove any solid spices and return it to the pot as a flavorful broth.

Step 14

Serve the birria with warm corn tortillas, shredded beef, chopped fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and ladle the rich broth into bowls alongside.

Step 15

Enjoy your birria as a taco with a squeeze of lime or sip on the comforting broth.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	3373.8 grams (3373.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5222

Total Fat 301.80g	387%
Saturated Fat 113.20g	566%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 953mg	318%
Sodium 6018mg	262%
Total Carbohydrate 368.20g	134%
Dietary Fiber 81.20g	290%
Total Sugars 16.00g
Protein 298.70g	597%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 887mg	68%
Iron 59mg	326%
Potassium 7463mg	159%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 50.5%

Protein: 22.2%

Carbs: 27.4%