The ULTIMATE birria tacos recipe
About this recipe
Birria tacos are a delicious Mexican dish that combines tender, slow-cooked beef with rich spices and a savory broth. This recipe from Jose.elcook takes you through the process of making the ultimate birria tacos from scratch, ensuring each bite is packed with flavor.
The secret to these tacos lies in the careful preparation of the meat and the flavorful sauce made from a variety of dried chiles and spices. With a cooking time of four hours, the beef becomes incredibly tender and infused with the deep flavors of the sauce.
Ingredient notes
- When buying oxtail, look for pieces with a lot of meat surrounding the bone, as some packages may contain mostly bones.
- For blending the sauce, you can use either water or beef broth.
Tips from Jose.elcook's video
- Let the meat sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
- Toast the spices in the oven or on a skillet to enhance their flavors before boiling them with the other sauce ingredients.
- Sear the meat in batches to maintain the pan's temperature and achieve a good sear, which adds depth of flavor.
- Don't forget to blend the leftover sauce in the blender with some water to ensure nothing goes to waste.
No life story here — the video and the recipe are the whole point. All credit to Jose.elcook: watch the original on YouTube.
The recipe
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
Let the meat sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- 2
Toast the spices in the oven, then boil them along with the rest of the sauce ingredients in a pot of water for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture after boiling.
- 3
Before blending the boiled ingredients, add in the ground cumin, salt, and water, then blend until completely smooth to make the sauce.
- 4
Generously salt and sear the meat in batches, then pour the sauce over the seared meat.
- 5
Add 2 cups of water or broth over the sauced meat and mix well.
- 6
Add the apple cider vinegar and cover the pot. Cook in the oven at 350°F for 4 hours.
- 7
After 4 hours, shred the meat and remove any bones. Assemble the tacos as shown in the video.
Heads up — we had to guess a little:
- The quantity for 'salt to taste' is inferred as it is a common practice in cooking to season according to preference.
- The quantity for 'oil for searing' is inferred as it is typically used in cooking without a specific measurement.
Credit where it's due: this recipe was transcribed from Jose.elcook's original video on YouTube. Follow them there — it's their dish.
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