Ingredients

2 pounds beef shoulder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 large onion, sliced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, (recommended: San Marzano)
1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon ground cumin
3 bay leaves

Vegetable oil, for deep frying
6 fresh medium corn tortillas
Kosher salt
3 cups finely shredded white cabbage

Directions

Guacamole, recipe
follows

Ingredients

1/4 bunch fresh cilantro
leaves

Directions

For the simple salsa:

Ingredients

1
(28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained, reserving the juice (recommended: San Marzano)
1 small red onion, roughly chopped
1 Serrano chile
1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
2 limes, juiced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
Kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Directions

Season all sides of the

beef with a fair amount of salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven, or other heavy pot that
has a tight cover, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over moderately high heat. Add the
garlic and the beef to the pot, browning the meat on all sides, taking the time to get a
nice crust on the outside. Add the onion and allow to lightly brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the crushed tomatoes, plus 1 tomato can of water, spices, season with salt and
pepper, to taste, and add enough water to cover the meat. Bring to a boil then reduce heat
and simmer with a lid for 3 hours until the meat is fork tender. Let meat cool in the
liquid. Shred meat and set aside.

Heat a large pot of oil over medium heat. When oil reaches 350 degrees F, fry the corn
tortillas 1 at a time. Place the tortilla in the oil and wait about 30 seconds. Then use
the handle of a wooden spoon to press down into the center of the tortilla and fold it in
the middle. Hold down for a few seconds waiting for the tortilla to form into taco shell
and then drain on paper towels. Season with salt.

For the simple salsa:

To make salsa, pulse all the ingredients, except the tomato juice, in a food processor.
Add the reserved tomato juice if the salsa is too thick. Drizzle salsa with olive oil,
cover with plastic wrap and set aside, allowing the flavors to
marry.

Ingredients

To assemble the
tacos:

Directions

Lay some shredded cabbage as a base. Top with some
shredded beef. Serve alongside Guacamole and salsa. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
leaves.

Guacamole:

Ingredients

6 ripe avocados
3 limes, juiced
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, smashed then minced
2 serrano chiles, cut into rounds
1 big handful fresh cilantro with stems, about 1/2 cup, finely chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Halve and pit the avocados. With
a tablespoon, scoop out the flesh into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados using either a
fork or potato masher, leaving them still a bit chunky. Add the remaining ingredients, and
fold everything together. Drizzle with a little olive oil, adjust seasoning with salt and
pepper and give it 1 final mix with a fork.

Lay a piece of plastic wrap tight on the surface of the guacamole so it doesn't brown and
refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Yield: about 4 cups