Barbacoa
Slow-cooked beef brisket infused with dried chiles, vinegar, and warm spices until it shreds at a touch. A classic Southwestern celebration dish served with warm tortillas.
Ingredients
- 6 lbs beef brisket, trimmed of excess fat
- 4 dried ancho chiles, seeded
- 2 dried chipotle peppers
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 white onion, quartered
- 8 garlic cloves, smashed
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 large flour tortillas
Instructions
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1
Toast 4 seeded dried ancho chiles and 2 dried chipotle peppers in a dry skillet for 1 minute, then soak in 1 cup hot water for 10 minutes until soft.
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2
Transfer softened chiles to a blender with 3/4 cup of the soaking liquid. Add 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Blend until smooth.
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3
Place 6 lbs trimmed of excess fat beef brisket in a slow cooker and add the chile paste, 2 cups beef broth, 1 quartered white onion, and 8 smashed garlic cloves.
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4
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until beef brisket shreds easily with a fork. Alternatively, cook on high for 5 hours.
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5
Shred the beef brisket directly in the slow cooker using two forks, breaking it into bite-sized pieces. Skim excess fat from the surface.
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6
Warm 8 large flour tortillas and serve beef brisket in tortillas with cooking liquid drizzled on top and your choice of garnishes.