Mexican Stew: Birria

  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
  • Total: 2 hr
  • Prep: 40 min
  • Cook: 1 hr 20 min
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Ingredients

4 guajillo chiles

4 ancho chiles

1 cup hot water

1 pound top round, cubed for stew

1 pound baby back ribs, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 1/2 quarts water

1 onion

6 garlic cloves

2 fresh bay leaves

6 sprigs thyme

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon Mexican oregano

Salt and pepper

Sauce:

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon ground chile piquin

Garnish:

1/2 cup diced onion

2 limes, cut into wedges

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Corn tortillas, as an accompaniment

Directions

  1. On hot griddle toast the ancho and gaujillo chile and submerge in hot water. Let chiles sit for 20 minutes. Remove from water and puree in blender with a cup of warm water. Set aside.
  2. In a deep Dutch oven, add the beef and ribs, water, onion, and garlic cloves. Bring to boil and cook for 1 hour. At this point add the bay leaves, thyme, chile puree, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper simmer for 30 minutes. To make sauce, puree the garlic, vinegar, and chile powder in a blender.
  3. Serve the stew in a big bowl with a sprinkle of onion and cilantro and a squeeze of lime on top. Serve with corn tortillas and some of the sauce on the side, as well.

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Nunezn1

I dont know why people are saying that we do not use cumin in our food! Of course we do. My mom, my grandma, my aunts and they are from Mexico. Central Mexico to be exact. I use it since thats how my mom taught me. My grandma is 97 years young tomorrow and uses it for lots of her dishes. <div><br /></div><div>We do the Birria very similar but add beer to the sauce. Its a million times better and this is the way I have always made it and the way it was passed down from the line. </div>

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