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Traditional Mexican Birria

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Delicious traditional mexican birria recipe with detailed instructions and nutritional information.

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 lbs Goat meat, cut into large chunks (or beef chuck roast)
  • 1 large Onion, roughly chopped
  • 810 dried Guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 35 dried Ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Mexican Oregano
  • 1 tsp Ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp Ground cloves

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the goat meat, onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, cloves, salt, and pepper.
  2. Step 2: Rehydrate the dried chiles by soaking them in hot water for 20-30 minutes until softened. Then blend the rehydrated chiles with some of the soaking water until smooth.
  3. Step 3: Pour the chile sauce over the meat in the pot. Add enough water to cover the meat by about an inch.
  4. Step 4: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 3-4 hours, or until the meat is very tender and easily shreds.
  5. Step 5: Skim off any excess fat from the surface of the broth. Shred the meat with two forks.
  6. Step 6: Serve the birria in bowls with the broth. Garnish with chopped onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. You can also dip corn tortillas in the broth and fry them to make quesabirria tacos.

Notes

  • Refrigerate leftover birria in an airtight container; the flavors meld together even more beautifully overnight.
  • For reheating, simmer gently on the stovetop or microwave in short bursts, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to maintain moisture.
  • Serve your birria with warm corn tortillas, finely chopped white onion, fresh cilantro, and plenty of lime wedges for squeezing.
  • Don't be shy with the chile soaking water – adding it gradually to the blender helps create a perfectly smooth and flavorful birria sauce.
  • Author: Kristin Romick
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American