A few years ago, birria came to the modern food scene as a taco. This slow-cooked stew, traditionally made with goat meat (or occasionally lamb), is served inside a warm tortilla, topped with gooey melted cheese, and griddled until crispy.
It’s a mouth-watering fusion of comfort food and culinary art. No wonder it’s a hit on TikTok and Instagram!
Birria is a traditional Mexican stew that’s made with beef, goat, or lamb. This dish is usually served in the form of shredded meat on a tortilla with a side of crimson-colored consomme, and it’s often seen on food trucks serving up these mouthwatering tacos. Typically, the stew is marinated in a blend of spices before being slow-cooked until fork-tender and then dunked into the consomme before serving.
Birrieria is rich in nutrients and flavor, making it a perfect addition to any diet. The broth contains high amounts of protein, iron, potassium, and calcium, while the meat is a source of healthy fats and antioxidants. Plus, it’s chock-full of beneficial bacteria called “probiotics,” which help keep your digestive system on track.
One of the key ingredients in birria is beef bones and marrow. This provides a unique, rich flavor that’s distinct from any other beef broth you may have tasted before. In order to get the most out of these ingredients, the broth must simmer for a long time. The result is a deep, flavorful soup that can be enjoyed alone or as the base for a variety of dishes.
Traditionally, birria is cooked in a clay pot, which gives it a rustic flavor. However, most cooks today opt to pressure-cook the meat for a faster, more efficient result. The stew is then strained, allowing the liquid to be separated from the solid meat. It’s then flavored with chiles, garlic, cumin, coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks or bark, cardamom pods, and bay leaves, among other spices.
The popularity of birria has led to fusion dishes like birria wontons, birria ramen, and birria egg rolls, all of which have trended on social media and ended up on IRL menus. The Ramos sisters say they’re excited to see birria get this much attention, but they’re also committed to keeping the recipe true to its Mexican roots.
Before you can make birria tacos you’ll need to prepare the birria de res (braised beef). While this recipe isn’t difficult, it does take some time. You’ll need to allow for several hours of simmering, so it’s best to plan ahead and start cooking the day before you want to serve the tacos.
The best cuts of meat to use for birria are chuck roast or short ribs. Both of these cuts are excellent for braising, and they provide the perfect combination of tender texture from chuck roast and succulence from short ribs. You can substitute brisket or top round for the short ribs if you can’t find them in your area, but be sure to choose a cut that can stand up to hours of slow-cooked heat.
Birria Recipe
Birria is an ancient, comforting and nourishing Mexican stew that’s perfect for cold weather. It’s often made with lamb meat or goat, but since these cuts are more expensive and hard to find it’s common for cooks to make birria using beef (such as chuck roast or short ribs). This delicious soup is best served in warm tortillas, with shredded or diced beef, sour cream and onions on top. It can also be paired with crunchy cabbage or radishes to balance the richness of the broth.
Traditionally, birria de res is simmered for hours, resulting in tender, flavorful meat that just falls off the bone. The process is lengthy, but it’s worth it if you love the taste of slow-cooked and deeply flavorful meat.
While there’s no one right way to make birria, many expert birrieros have shaped their recipes over the years based on what they have access to and the limitations of their cooking setups. Chef Josef Centeno, a restaurateur in Los Angeles, is a proponent of making the dish with a mix of ingredients, including root vegetables and earthy spices like ginger and lemongrass, which add depth of flavor.
Once the meat is cooked to fall-off-the-bone perfection, it’s shredded and served in tortillas. Birria is also delicious poured over toasted tortilla chips or mixed into rice for a hearty meal.
This delicious dish is very popular in Mexico and is a must-try for anyone who loves the flavors of a good stew! Birria is a comforting meal that can be eaten any time of day, but it’s particularly good for breakfast because it’s warm and filling. It’s also healthy because it has a lot of protein, which is great for your muscles and a rich source of iron that can help combat anemia.
The recipe for birria is easy, but it takes a little patience because the meat needs to be braised for hours. If you’re making it for a party, it’s best to start the day before because the preparation is quite involved.
Start by soaking the dried chiles in water. Once rehydrated, blend them into a puree along with the onion, garlic, and tomatoes to build incredible depth of flavor. Then, simmer the chile puree with the beef and other ingredients until the birria is as thick as you want it to be. Once the birria is ready, strain it to remove any lingering bits of pepper (the skins from the anchos and guajillos can be slightly bitter). You can serve this hearty birria in bowls as a delicious stew or on tacos for mouthwatering birria tacos! It’s important to use high-quality ingredients in order to get the most authentic flavor. You can even add a bit of lime juice to the strained birria for an extra pop of citrus! This will also give the birria some extra acidity which will balance out the richness. Try these tasty birria tacos for your next Mexican-themed dinner or for a comforting meal at home. The taste of the warm birria will transport you to Mexico and leave your belly happy and satisfied!