We're keeping barbacoa as simple as possible today. This homemade style comes without digging any holes in your backyard. We've got the meatiest, juiciest barbacoa you can make, all while staying the comforts of your own kitchen. Don't skip out early... after their tacos, Papa's got a barbacoa surprise for you.
SUPPLIES USED:
Serves: 4-6
INGREDIENTS:
Meat
2lbs Beef Brisket
2lbs Beef Cheeks
Salt
2 cups (475 ml) Beef Stock
8 Garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
4 Guajillo chiles
2 tsp (5 g) ground cumin
3 Bay leaves
1 Cinnamon stick
¼ cup water
Salsa Verde Ingredients:
1 Sweet Onion, roughly chopped
4 Jalapenos, roughly chopped
5 Garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1.5lbs (680 g) tomatillos, skinned and rinsed
½ bunch of cilantro
Salt to taste
Lime juice to taste
Torta Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup salsa verde (optional)
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 Tbsp chipotle powder
3 Tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
2 tsp oregano, finely chopped
Salt to taste
Lime juice to taste
Taco Assembly:
Tortilla
Barbacoa Meat
Salsa Verde
Onions, chopped
Cilantro, chopped
Lime to taste
Torta Assembly:
Telera or Bolillo Rolls
Barbacoa
Torta sauce
Salsa verde
Pickled onions
Cotija cheese
Cilantro
INSTRUCTIONS:
Meat Method:
Cut meat into 3-inch chunks. Season with salt.
Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil just to coat the bottom.
Add beef in batches. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side. Set to the side and repeat with the remaining pieces.
Turn off the heat and add meat chunks back to the pot. Add in beef stock, garlic cloves, guajillo chiles, ground cumin, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and water.
Bring up to a boil over medium-high. Immediately reduce to low and simmer.
Add parchment paper layer on top followed by the lid.
Place pot in a 300F preheated oven for 4-6 hours.
Remove from the oven and place in a roasting pan. Finely shred using forks. Season with salt to taste.
Salsa Verde Method:
To a medium pot, add chopped onions, jalapenos, garlic cloves, and quartered tomatillos.
Fill with water to cover. Season with salt.
Set on the stove set to medium-high. Boil for 5-8 minutes.
Add boiled vegetables to a blender and blend on medium speed, adding cooking water if needed, until smooth.
Add in cilantro and blend on high until smooth.
Pour into a bowl and chill over an ice bath. Season to taste with salt and lime juice. Stir until cooled.
Prepping Method:
Cut the top and bottom off the onion, and remove the skin. Remove the layers and cut individually lengthwise into batons. Cut across batons
Roughly chop cilantro.
Taco Method:
Heat a tortilla.
Add a generous amount of meat topped with salsa.
Top with onions, and chopped cilantro with a lime wedge on the side.
Torta Method:
For the sauce, add all ingredients to a bowl and mix until combined.
Slice bread in half and toast in a pan with butter.
Add sauce to both cut sides of bread.
Stack on the meat along with salsa verde, pickled red onions, crumbled cotija cheese, and cilantro leaves.
Top with the other slice of bread, slice in half, and serve.
