Authentic Birria Recipe
Authentic birria, a traditional Mexican stew with tender meat and a rich, flavorful red chile broth. Perfect as a hearty stew or crispy birria tacos, this recipe is your go-to for an irresistible Mexican classic.
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 lbs beef chuck roast cut into chunks
- 12 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
- 5 ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
- 5 árbol chiles adjust for spice level
- 2 Roma tomatoes
- 1 medium onion
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1 tsp Mexican oregano
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat: Season beef with salt and pepper. Sear in a hot pan until browned on all sides. Set aside.
- Soak the Chiles: Simmer the dried chiles, tomatoes, onion, cinnamon, and bay leaves in water for 10 minutes until softened.
- Blend the Sauce: Transfer the softened ingredients to a blender. Add garlic, cumin, oregano, cloves, vinegar, and a cup of chile-soaked water. Blend until smooth.
- Cook the Birria: Strain the blended sauce over the seared meat in a large pot. Add beef broth, cover, and simmer on low for 3-4 hours until the meat is tender and shreddable.
- Shred and Serve: Remove the meat, shred it, and return it to the pot. Serve as a stew or use as filling for tacos.
Notes
- Meat Variations: While traditionally made with goat or lamb, beef chuck roast works perfectly for this recipe.
- Spice Level: Adjust the number of arbol chiles to control spice—omit for mild, 3 for medium, and up to 10 for hot.
- Cinnamon & Oregano: Use Mexican cinnamon (Ceylon) and Mexican oregano for authentic flavor, or substitute with regular alternatives.
- Storage: Birria keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freezer for 3 months.