You’re probably familiar with Birria Tacos through Tiktok and Instagram Reels. And it’s unquestionable how this mouth-watering dish became so popular. There are many things to adore about birria tacos, including the color, the crispness, the meat, and the mess.
The mess especially shows how this dish is a combination of rich flavors, and it gives that experience that people crave. Not to mention, the mess makes it a photogenic dish.
Where did birria tacos originate?
Birria is a traditional Mexican beef or goat stew that is incredibly savory, spicy, and slow-cooked until the flesh is succulent, fall-apart delicate, and flavorful.
Birria tacos are among the best examples of what is usually referred to as “street food” in Mexico. They were created in Cocula, a village southwest of Guadalajara and northwest of Lake Chapala, in the heart of Jalisco.
Birria is typically eaten as a stew or a taco filling and is described as an “exquisite, delicious cuisine full of culture and history.”
Going further back in its origination, Spanish and Mexican cuisine started to change around the 16th century, during the “Conquista,” due to the introduction of new spices and animal species. Mexico’s gastronomy was permanently altered due to this change in tradition.
Due to sickness and the conquistadors’ defeat, which resulted in the mass extinction of the indigenous population, the first 100 years after the Conquista was harsh and damaging for the people of Mexico.
New animals were brought in during this time, including pigs, chickens, and cattle, quickly becoming commonplace and reared by many humans. However, goats were also viewed as a nuisance because they destroyed the land and crops by eating everything in their path and contributed to famine.
During this time, many Mexicans experienced hardship and began eating goat meat, which was primarily responsible for the invention of the first birria.
Many different herbs and fragrant spices were used to counteract the gamey flavor and overpower the strong smell of goat flesh since it tastes so gamey, especially the older the goat is. To make the goat meat more flavorful, it was also cooked for a very long time until it was incredibly soft.
As for its name, there is debate over its etymology. The adjective for birria, “birrioso,” indicates “poor class” or “worth nothing.” Because of the negative connotation, many individuals have proposed several explanations, one of which is that the word is derived from the Spanish onomatopoeia, “berrear,” which refers to the bleating of a goat.
What are birria tacos made of?
Birria Tacos (also known as Quesa Tacos) include tender beef, a rich adobo sauce, gooey cheese, and earthy corn tortillas. These tacos are repeatedly dipped into the soup after being pan-fried to the perfect cheese-crusted crispness for a tasty, texturally exciting experience!
The dish is frequently served at festivals like weddings and baptisms and on occasions like Christmas and Easter. It’s a well-liked food to consume to work off a cruda or hangover. Aside from the mentioned ingredients, this dish is typically served with onions, cilantro, and lime juice.
The preparation methods vary among households and restaurants.
What ingredients do you need to make birria tacos?
Birria Tacos are made out of a few ingredients, and here is a list of the following while some of the most important ones are elaborated below:
- beef shank cut
- olive oil
- guajillo chiles
- ancho chiles
- tomatoes quartered
- onion halved
- A whole head of garlic.
- cinnamon stick up to 2-inch
- bay leaf
- dried Mexican oregano
- cumin seeds
- dried thyme
- salt
- A little bit of apple cider vinegar brings balance to the dish.
- black peppercorns
- beef broth
- tortillas
- cheese
- cilantro
- Beef shank cut – It’s a cost-effective choice that cooks up perfectly tender to produce juicy and luscious birria tacos.
- Mexican Dried Chilies – In this dish, guajillo, ancho, and chiles de Arbol are required because of their great, robust flavor. It is advised to trim the edges and remove the seeds.
- Mexican oregano – This is available in a Latin market and is distinct from Italian oregano. You could use the Italian oregano, but the Mexican version is tastier and more fragrant.
- Oaxaca cheese – is a Mexican cheese that resembles mozzarella quite a bit. The cheese is a mild, creamy variety manufactured from cow’s milk, and it melts quite well. If Oaxaca is unavailable, substitutes like queso quesadilla, Chihuahua, mozzarella, or even Monterey Jack are acceptable.
- Cilantro – is a necessary ingredient for Mexican-style tacos and gives the dish great freshness. However, if you don’t like cilantro, feel free to omit it.
What type of meat is used for birria tacos?
Birria is currently cooked with beef, lamb, hog, chicken, and vegetarian ingredients in addition to goat meat. The most popular cuts for lamb and beef are the ribs and the shank, respectively; however, you can also use other cuts.
Although beef, lamb, or goat meat makes traditional birria, you can also use chicken or pork. Use pork shoulder or chicken thighs because they cook slowly and get nice and tender.
The meat is then marinated in a blend of guajillo, ancho, and chipotle peppers. Additionally, you’ll utilize herbs and spices like cloves, marjoram, thyme, cumin, and oregano. The meat becomes tender and delectable due to the marinating process, which allows the flavors to permeate the meat.
What's in the consomme of birria tacos?
Consommé is typically considered to be the highlight of Birria Tacos. Consommé is the liquid the birria meat cooks in, imparting its exquisite flavor. This also serves as the tacos dipping sauce.
Birria is a traditional Mexican meal that can also be prepared with beef or lamb in addition to goat. The beef is cooked until it is extremely soft after being marinated in a blend of chili peppers and spices. When served with tortillas and other fixings, the resulting broth is frequently consumed as a soup or consomme.
The ingredients include beef stock, softened dry chiles, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, spices, boiled-down onion, tomatoes, and garlic which are then blended to create a silky, smooth sauce.
What flavor does consomme birria have? It is a tasty consomme that does not overshadow the flavor because of its rich earthy flavor and low sodium level. Even though the spice level of this dish is mild, you may simply increase it by adding dried arbol chile slices.
The dish is easy to make and has the ideal flavor for a crowd. You may prepare them on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or with an Instant Pot. And if you are wondering if you can drink the consomme, yes you can.
How to make birria tacos consomme broth?
Birria Consomme is a rich and fragrant Mexican sauce that infuses each bite with great flavor using a blend of savory, sweet, earthy, smoky, and spicy seasonings.
You must cook the meat as well to make the best birria consomme. It significantly deepens the birria sauce flavor. The best thing about cooking the beef simultaneously as the consomme is that you can shred it and use it for birria tacos later.
So here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Put a big pot or dutch oven on medium-high heat first, and include olive oil. When heated, add beef to the saucepan after seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Sear everything. Cook for an additional two minutes after adding the onion, half of it. While preparing the sauce, turn off the heat and set aside.
- The dried chile peppers should be stripped of their stems and seeds. Add the chiles, tomatoes, half an onion, garlic cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf to a medium pot. Add 4 to 5 cups of water or enough to cover all the ingredients thoroughly.
- Bring to a boil on the stove over medium-high heat. When it boils, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer, covered, for ten minutes.
- Salt, peppercorns, dried thyme, cumin seeds, and other ingredients can be added to the sauce pot. Stir it, then let it simmer for a further 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes to cool.
- Pour the sauce pot’s contents through a sizable wire-mesh strainer into a sizable basin.
- Take out the bay leaf and cinnamon stick, then throw them away.
- Blend the remaining solids in a container.
- In the blender, combine 1 cup of beef broth with 2 cups of the sauce’s broth. Blend thoroughly in a blender. Just till combined, taste, and adjust salt as necessary.
- Put the pot containing the steak and onion back over medium heat. Over the beef, pour the blender’s contents. Add more beef broth if the sauce is insufficient to cover the beef.
- Simmer, then cover and turn down the heat. Simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the meat is soft and readily shredded.
How long does it take to make birria tacos?
Traditionally, preparing the dish takes a lot of time and effort. Although it takes four hours to complete, the recipe for beef birria is not difficult. In actuality, if you time it carefully, you’ll only be working on the dish for a full 30 to 60 minutes. Cooking takes up the remaining time.
We also advise that when you decide to make these at home, make a lot, then! One or two won’t be enough for you to eat. Additionally, you will appreciate the leftovers!
If you have any leftover tacos, you can reheat them in the oven at 375 degrees F for up to three days by placing them on a rimmed baking sheet. Birria tacos should not be frozen since they will turn soggy while thawing; however, birria stew can be frozen for up to three months.
Are birria tacos spicy?
Are birria tacos vegetarian or vegan?
Birria Tacos are traditionally not vegan. However, despite having a high fat and cholesterol content, birria is nonetheless a nutritious dish. All three macronutrients are balanced by goat meat, and the chili sauce also contains a few calories. Goat meat is also low in sodium, making it a great option for anyone who is watching their sodium intake.
However, you can create a vegan version. To replace goat meat or other types of meat, you can use meaty oyster mushrooms.
The finest Vegan Birria Tacos are made with meaty oyster mushrooms that have been shredded, marinated, and then filled between warmed tortillas with melty cheese and fried to perfection.
You can ensure that your vegan birria tacos are delicious by following these suggestions:
Dry the mushrooms thoroughly. When you fry them, they won’t become crispy if there is still water on them.
Don’t cut; shred. Resist the impulse just to chop the mushrooms into pieces because you want that shredded texture for these tacos. Instead, you can either use two forks to shred them or a fork to make grooves in the stems, then use your hands to rip the pieces apart along the grooves.
Where can I find a birria taco place?
To the greater Houston area, Dripped Birria proudly serves delectable Mexican meals. Therefore, you can also find the best birria taco in town at Dripped Birria in Houston, TX.
Get the Best Birria Tacos at Dripped Birria
A delightful and convenient way to enjoy a traditional Mexican dish is by eating birria tacos with consommé. The consomme provides a rich and savory flavor to the tasty broth that the meat is cooked in. The entire dining party will enjoy these tacos, which are ideal for any occasion.
However, when dining out or looking for a place to get them, choose one that offers the best! Dripped Birria makes the best birria tacos. You can check their socials or visit them to see and taste them yourself!
