Best Beef Birria and Birria Tacos

Step 1

Combine Ingredients: In large pot add meat, onion, garlic, carrots, bay leaves and dried peppers. Cover with water. (This uses my large 7 qt pot and fills it to the top!)

Step 2

Add Seasonings: Add chicken bouillon, oregano, cumin and salt, stir to combine. Bring to a boil.

Step 3

Skim: After 30 minutes, skim the top of the pot to remove impurities from the bone cooking out. (will look like little bits of foam on the top)

Step 4

Blend Peppers: Remove the peppers (should be softened) and place in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, add up to 1/4 cup of broth if needed to help get a smooth consistency.

Step 5

Strain: Strain the peppers if needed to remove bits of skin (if using a high powered blender this step is not necessary).

Step 6

Combine: Add the blended peppers into the broth and stir to combine.

Step 7

Season: Add in the chili powder as desired to get a nice deep red color to the broth.

Step 8

Simmer: Cover and continue to simmer for about 3 hours or until meat is tender and easily shredding on it’s own. (remove lid and give a stir every 40 minutes or so. Can also taste the broth once the meat is cooked through and adjust seasonings as needed).

Step 9

Reserve Grease: Skim the grease from the top of the broth (SAVE THIS!) pour the grease into a small skillet or saucepan, this is used for making the tacos if desired.

Step 10

Remove the onion, garlic, carrots, and bay leaves from the broth. (these ingredients were in the broth for flavoring…people are more than welcome to eat and enjoy them, so save them if you want!)

Step 11

Serving: Remove the meat from the broth and cut into large chunks for serving. Remove any bones.

Step 12

To Serve as a Stew:

Step 13

Serve a couple pieces of meat into a bowl, spoon broth on top.

Step 14

Top with diced onion and fresh cilantro. Serve with a wedge of lime to squeeze in.

Step 15

To Make Quesabirria Tacos:

Step 16

Chop Meat: Remove the meat from the broth, and finely chop until only small pieces remain.

Step 17

Heat a large skillet/griddle over medium heat.

Step 18

Frying Tortillas: Dip the corn tortilla into the reserved grease from the broth.

Step 19

Place on heated griddle, top with the chopped meat and cheese.

Step 20

Fold the taco over and press down with a spatula. Continue cooking until the taco is crisp and golden on the bottom, about 2-3 minutes. Then flip and continue cooking the other side. (it’s ok if some of the cheese leaks out while frying, the golden cheese is the best part!) Plus you can spoon some additional grease onto the tortilla while it cooks if you need more coloring to the tortilla.

Step 21

Cook until both sides are crisp. Remove from heat and allow to cool briefly before serving, will be very hot.

Step 22

Continue until all tacos are cooked.

Step 23

Top tacos with fresh cilantro and onion if desired.

Step 24

Serving: Serve with a bowl of the broth topped with onions and cilantro on the side.

Step 25

Dip the tacos into the broth while eating.