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Authentic Mexican birria tacos served with delicious consommé

Birria Tacos

Delightful tacos filled with tender, shredded beef and served with flavorful consommé, capturing the essence of traditional Mexican cooking.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 20 tacos
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Protein
  • 4 lbs boneless beef chuck roast
Oils
  • ¼ cup canola oil (plus more for frying)
Chiles
  • 4 dried Ancho chiles (stemmed and seeded)
  • 4 dried Guajillo chiles (stemmed and seeded)
Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo sauce
  • 1 yellow onion (cut into wedges)
  • 10 garlic cloves (whole)
  • 3 Roma tomatoes (whole)
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 6 cups beef stock (divided)
Spices
  • 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
  • teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
Seasoning
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Tortillas
  • 20 corn tortillas
Cheese
  • 16 oz Oaxaca cheese (or mozzarella, grated)
Toppings
  • Fresh cilantro leaves
  • Yellow onion (finely diced)
  • Fresh lime wedges

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a dry skillet, toast the Ancho and Guajillo chiles for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Transfer the toasted chiles to a bowl, cover with hot water, and let them soak for 15 minutes until softened.
  2. Heat canola oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season the beef chuck roast with salt and pepper. Sear on all sides until browned, about 6-8 minutes.
  3. In a blender, combine the soaked chiles, chipotle in adobo, onion, garlic, tomatoes, oregano, paprika, coriander, cumin, vinegar, and 1 cup of beef stock. Blend until smooth.
Cooking
  1. Pour the sauce over the beef in the pot. Add the remaining beef stock, bay leaves, and cinnamon stick. Bring the pot to a simmer, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 3-4 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender.
  2. Remove the beef from the pot and shred it using two forks. Heat a skillet over medium heat and lightly oil it. Take a tortilla, fill it with shredded beef and cheese, fold it, and cook until golden on both sides.
Serving
  1. Serve the tacos with consomé on the side, topped with cilantro, diced onion, and lime wedges for a burst of freshness.

Notes

Allow enough time for the beef to become fork-tender; patience is key. Adjust the heat level of the chiles to suit your taste preferences. For optimal flavor, let the beef marinate in the spice blend a few hours before cooking. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days; the flavors deepen over time.