Our Most Saved Taco Recipe of All Time
We're making this on repeat no matter what time of year it is.
With Cinco de Mayo coming up, we can't help but think about our favorite Mexican-inspired dishes. And more than that, we can learn more about the rich history of the occasion as we celebrate the holiday both consciously and respectfully with friends and neighbors. As always, a great place to start is through food. The family recipes we share in our community of home cooks help us shine a light on each other's kitchens and our traditions and cultures.
Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May) commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla when the Mexicans defeated French colonists trying to overtake territory in Mexico. Today, we love to honor the day by cooking for each other. With its flavorful ingredients, this recipe is the perfect place to start—and our Allrecipes members agree, saving it as their number one go-to taco feast.
Our Most Saved Taco Recipe: Birria de Res Tacos (Beef Birria Tacos)
This Birria de Res Tacos (Beef Birria Tacos) recipe features braised beef slow-cooked in a signature sauce. While it's a labor of love, the time and effort result in over-the-top taste and melt-in-your-mouth meat. Added to crispy fried tortillas, you have a meal that will have everyone celebrating.
Why We Love This Recipe
From the start, bold flavor develops in the cooking liquid with three kinds of dried chiles: guajillo chile peppers, chile de arbol peppers, and ancho chiles. Fresh garlic, whole cloves, cinnamon, cumin, thyme, marjoram, and oregano add depth, and the bright, acidic smokiness of grilled tomatoes round it all out. Beef chuck roast has no choice but to soak up all these elements to become something magical after hours in the oven.
How to Make Birria de Res Tacos (Beef Birria Tacos)
The ingredient list might seem long, but the method is quite simple when you boil it down (pun intended). Start by soaking the dried chiles in hot water. Next, sear the meat and grill the tomatoes. Prep the sauce by blending the soaked peppers with the reserved chile-infused water, the charred tomatoes, and the seasonings until smooth. Pour that fragrant, savory, spicy sauce over chuck roast and cook for 3 to 4 hours in a 325-degree F oven. When the meat is fall-apart tender, shred it and prep the tortillas. Finally, you're ready to assemble and fry them with cheese and enjoy with chopped onion and cilantro—or make the birria tacos your own with guacamole, fresh salsa, lime crema, and more fun choices.
Recipe Tip
Before rehydrating the chiles for the sauce, you can either remove the seeds to keep the sauce mild or leave them in to turn up the heat.
The recipe page has all the detailed step-by-step directions you need to make this favorite dish, but here are a few tips to make it extra special:
Get a good sear on your beef for next-level richness. In the video on the recipe page, Culinary Producer Nicole McLaughlin suggests cutting the meat into smaller pieces for more seared love.
Allrecipes Allstar France C offers a make-ahead tip: "I made the sauce the day before to save time. This one is a definite keeper!"
Nicole also suggests in the video, "Skim the fat off the top of the braising liquid when you're done cooking the meat. But don't throw it out and waste all that precious flavor—use it to cook your tortillas before assembling the tacos."
Dip finished tacos in extra sauce. Some reviews suggest making extra cooking liquid to ensure enough at the end.
""Stayed strictly to the recipe. It turned out great! The only thing I will try next time is to reserve more of the sauce for dipping."
"
Allrecipes Member Mark Matthews
What to Serve with Your Birria Tacos
Complement these "wonderful" and "amazing" tacos with delicious additions like Mexican rice, avocado salad, or an elote side. We have a whole list of ideas right here, too, but the most important part of a complete meal is sharing it with those you love. And what better dish to pass than a platter full of tacos?
Read the original article on All Recipes.