Description
This birria tacos cheese recipe combines slow-braised beef chuck in a rich chile consomme with melted Oaxaca cheese, folded into crispy pan-fried tortillas. Serve with warm consomme for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
- 4 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 3 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 2 dried chiles de arbol, stemmed, optional
- 1 white onion, quartered
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2 Roma tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Salt to taste
- 16 small corn tortillas
- 3 cups shredded Oaxaca cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion, for serving
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Toast guajillo, ancho, and arbol chiles in a dry skillet 30 seconds per side. Soak in hot water 15 minutes, then drain.
- Blend soaked chiles with onion, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, oregano, and 1 cup beef broth until smooth.
- Season beef with salt, place in a Dutch oven or slow cooker. Add chile sauce, remaining broth, bay leaves, cinnamon, and vinegar. Cook on low 4 to 5 hours stovetop or 6 to 8 hours slow cooker until shreddable.
- Shred beef, discarding excess fat. Skim 1/2 cup fat from the braising liquid and reserve. Strain remaining liquid as consomme.
- Dip tortillas in reserved fat, place in a hot skillet, add cheese and beef, fold in half.
- Fry 2 to 3 minutes per side until crispy and cheese is melted. Serve with warm consomme, onion, cilantro, and lime.
Notes
Braise the beef a day ahead for deeper flavor and easier assembly.
Use a mix of Oaxaca and Monterey Jack if Oaxaca cheese is unavailable.
Cotija cheese does not melt well, use only as a topping, not inside the taco.
Store shredded beef and consomme separately in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat meat in consomme before frying fresh tortillas.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Dinner, Family Comfort
- Method: Braise, Pan-Fry
- Cuisine: Mexican, American Family Heritage
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg