Birria Tacos are a delicious Mexican speciality originating in the state of Jalisco, although its popularity has spread throughout Mexico and beyond. 

Birria is a dish traditionally prepared with goat or lamb meat, although nowadays beef is also used, marinated in a mixture of chillies and spices, and slowly cooked until the meat is extremely tender.

In recent decades, birria tacos have gained international popularity, especially in the United States. Cities with large Mexican communities, such as Los Angeles and New York, have seen a boom in demand for this dish.

How to prepare good Birria Tacos?

To prepare birria tacos, you will need:

Ingredients

For the Birria

• 1 kg of beef (rib, chambarete, or a combination)
• 500 g goat or lamb meat (optional)
• 4 dried guajillo chillies
• 4 dried ancho chillies
• 4 dried pasilla chillies
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 large onion
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 litre beef stock
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Tacos

• Corn tortillas
• Chopped onion
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Quartered lemons
• Salsa (optional, to taste)

Preparation

To prepare the birria tacos, follow these steps:

Preparation of the Birria

Follow these tips to prepare birria.

Prepare the chillies:

1. Remove the seeds and veins from the dried chillies.
2. Lightly toast the chillies in a hot frying pan, being careful not to burn them.
3. Place the chillies in a bowl of hot water and soak for 15-20 minutes until soft.

Prepare the marinade:

1. In a blender, add the soaked chillies (drained), garlic, onion, tomatoes, cumin, oregano, cloves, cinnamon, vinegar and some of the beef stock. Whisk until smooth.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Marinate the meat:

1. Place the meat in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it. Make sure the meat is well coated.
2. Cover the container and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Cook the birria:

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F).
2. Place the marinated meat in a large pot and add the remaining beef stock and bay leaves.
3. Cover the pot and cook in the oven for about 4 hours, or until the meat is very tender and falls apart easily with a fork.

Shred the meat:

1. Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the pot and shred it.
2. Strain the resulting broth and set aside.

Preparation of the Tacos

Follow these tips to prepare your tacos.

Heat the tortillas:

1. Heat the corn tortillas in a hot skillet or on a griddle until soft and pliable.

Assemble the tacos:

1. Place some shredded beef on each tortilla.
2. Add chopped onion and fresh cilantro to taste.
3. Serve tacos with lime wedges and salsa, if desired.

Consume with the consommé:

1. Serve the strained broth (consommé) in small bowls. You can add a little onion, cilantro and lime juice to the consommé for extra flavour.

Dip the tacos in the consommé as you eat them for an even more delicious experience.

Once you have followed these steps, your birria tacos are ready, but if you want to prepare tacos in true Mexican style, we recommend cooking your own homemade tortillas.

If you don’t have time or you want to enjoy a different quality Mexican dinner, remember! 

At Taqueria de Birra we are experts in tacos and Mexican food since 1989, so if you want to taste tacos in the purest Mexican style, we invite you to order to take away or come and try them at C/ Don Pedro, 11 or at Plaza de las Comendadoras, 2.