Barbacoa Food

BARBACOA-STYLE SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• Season beef chunks with salt and pepper on all sides.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef in batches; cook until browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer beef to a slow cooker.
• Combine beef broth, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, chipotle peppers, garlic, cumin, oregano, and cloves in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Pour over beef in the slow cooker. Stir in bay leaves.
• Cook on Low until beef is fork-tender, 8 to 10 hours.
• Discard bay leaves. Remove beef and shred using 2 forks. Return beef to the slow cooker to marinate in the sauce for at least 10 more minutes before serving.

BARBACOA

Steps:

• First, trim as much fat as you can from meat. Place in a slow cooker.
• In a blender, add about 1 cup of water. Blend cilantro, garlic (i usually use all of the bulb), onion, salt and pepper with water. (you can use as much or as little spices you want, depending on your taste).
• Pour this mixture over meat then add about 2-3 cups of more water depending on how much meat you are cooking.
• Cook meat in slow cooker on low for about 8 -10 hours. Again, this depends on how much meat you have.
• If you are going to eat this for breakfast (which is the traditional way), cook the day before and let is cool overnight. (I usually start cooking mine on Saturday AM until about 6PM, then let it cool. When cool enough, I refrigerate overnight).
• In the morning (Sunday AM) BEFORE heating up, skim all the grease that comes to the top.
• TOPPINGS: Chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, chopped fresh cilantro, chopped fresh jalapenos, shredded cheese, & sliced avocados.
• CHEEK MEAT: Beef cheek meat is very tender but very very fatty. You may want to buy more or less meat, depending on the size. You can use beef roast, if you want, but cheek meat is AWESOME (if you can find it).

LAMB BARBACOA

Steps:

• Toast the chiles in a dry cast iron skillet on medium heat for a few minutes on each side and then turn off the heat and fill the skillet with water. Let the chiles soak for 20 minutes or until soft.
• Cut the lamb into three-inch cubes and rub the meat with salt.
• Drain the chiles from the soaking water and place in a blender. Add to the blender the garlic, the coffee, the water, the cinnamon, the oregano, the cumin and the agave nectar. Puree until smooth.
• Coat the lamb with the chile puree, and let it marinate in the refrigerator for four hours.
• Heat the oven to 250°F.
• In a roasting pan, coat the bottom with some of the marinade. Place the onions and carrots on top of the marinade and then top this with the lamb.
• Tightly cover the pan with foil, and then cook in the oven covered for four hours or until fork tender.
• Shred meat with forks and serve in tortillas with cilantro, onions and salsa.

BEEF BARBACOA TACOS

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chiles and cook, pressing them down with a spatula, 10 seconds per side; transfer to a plate. Add the tomatoes, onion and garlic to the skillet and cook, stirring once or twice, until the vegetables are charred in spots, about 10 minutes.
• Peel the garlic and transfer to a blender along with the tomatoes and onion (reserve the skillet). Tear the chiles into pieces and add to the blender along with 1/2 cup water and 1 teaspoon salt; pulse until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into the skillet, pressing it through with the back of a spoon.
• Add the beef to the skillet and turn to coat in the chile sauce using tongs. Cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until a crust starts to form on the meat, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle in the cumin, cinnamon and cayenne pepper and cook 1 more minute. Meanwhile, puree 2 1/2 cups water, the cilantro and thyme in the blender; add to the skillet along with the bay leaves.
• Reduce the heat to low. Cover and gently simmer until the meat is very tender, about 2 hours, adding up to 1 1/2 cups water if the sauce gets too thick. Remove the bay leaves and season with salt and black pepper. Serve in tortillas with assorted toppings.

CHIPOTLE'S BARBACOA COPYCAT RECIPE

Steps:

• To make the adobo sauce combine vinegar, limejuice, chipotles, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt and cloves in a blender or processor on high speed until smooth.
• Remove most of the fat from the roast and then cut into large chunks (approximately 6).
• Pour oil into a frying pan and sear all sides of roast on medium-high heat until browned.
• Place meat into Crockpot and pour adobo sauce over meat.
• Pour in the chicken broth and add bay leaves.
• Cook on high heat 6 hours or on low all day.
• While still in the Crockpot, shred the meat with two forks and turn the heat to warm. Serve with hard or soft tortilla shells when ready.
• Typical sides include tortillas, rice, black or pinto beans, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.
• Don't forget to make my 5 Minute Guacamole to go with it.

MEXICAN BARBACOA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Rinse the beef cheek in cold water and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Place the cheeks on a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Add the cloves of garlic and season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange the pieces with the fat side facing up.
• Fold up the edges of the foil creating an airtight packet. There should be no leaks. Double wrap if necessary.
• Place the foil packet in an oven safe baking dish and bake at 350°F for 3 hours.
• Test for doneness by shredding with a fork. Most of the fat should be melted and the meat should fall apart and shred easily. If not, close up the foil and continue cooking longer, about 15 minutes per pound.
• After meat is cooked, remove and discard any large chunks of fat. You may discard the garlic or mash it in if you love garlic.
• Transfer the meat along with its juice from the foil packet to the baking dish. If there is an excessive amount of fat, this can be skimmed from the broth, but fat equals flavor.
• Taste and add additional salt and pepper if necessary. Finely shred the beef and serve with hot tortillas.

SLOW COOKER BARBACOA BEEF

Steps:

• Cut the beef into large cubes. In a large skillet over medium high heat add the vegetable oil and sear the beef on each side. Transfer to your slow cooker.
• In a food processor add adobo chilis, beef broth, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cloves, and lime juice. Pulse until blended and pour on top of the meat.
• Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 6 hours. Shred the meat with two forks and turn on warm.

BARBACOA CAULIFLOWER TACOS

Steps:

• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a glass mixing bowl, stir together the vegetable oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. In a large stainless-steel mixing bowl, pour the combined seasonings over the cauliflower florets. Toss together. Spread out evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until slightly browned and crisp, about 25 minutes.
• For the tomatillo avocado salsa: In a small saucepan, add the tomatillos and jalapeno to boiling water, then boil for about 10 minutes. Drain, then transfer it to a food processor. Add the cilantro, avocado, garlic, salt to taste and pepper. Puree, then adjust salt as needed.
• For the slaw: Combine the apple cider vinegar, honey, lime juice, salt, pepper and olive oil in a mixing bowl and mix to incorporate. Shave the cabbage using a mandoline and drop into the vinaigrette; mix to incorporate.
• For the tortillas: Take 4 tortillas and dip them into your favorite red enchilada sauce. Place the coated tortillas in a well-oiled cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the tortillas are crispy and have a red tint, 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
• To serve: Place the slaw in a line down the center of each tortilla (divide the slaw evenly). Evenly distribute the cauliflower filling into each tortilla. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the salsa across the top of each taco. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of crumbled Cotija cheese onto each taco.

SLOW COOKER BARBACOA BEEF

Steps:

• Heat the slow cooker if necessary. Put the chipotle paste, red onion, garlic, cloves, lime juice and cider vinegar into the slow cooker and stir until combined. Add the bay leaves, stock and coriander, then put the beef on top. Use a pair of tongs to turn the meat over a few times in the sauce.
• Put the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on High for 1 hour and then Low for 8 hours or until the meat shreds easily when you pull it apart with 2 forks.
• Serve with the lettuce cups and jalapeño chilles and crème fraîche.

SLOW-COOKER BARBACOA

Steps:

• Place the first 9 ingredients in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Add broth; pulse to combine., Place roast and bay leaves in a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker; pour sauce over top. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 7-9 hours., Prepare rice about 30 minutes before serving. In a large saucepan, combine water, rice, butter and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat; gently stir in cilantro and lime juice., Remove roast from slow cooker; cool slightly. Discard bay leaves and skim fat from cooking juices. Shred beef with 2 forks; return to slow cooker. Serve with rice.

SLOW COOKER BARBACOA

Steps:

• Put the tomatoes, chillies, oregano, cumin and garlic in a food processor with one-third of the wine, add 1 tsp salt and blitz until smooth.
• Put the lamb in the slow cooker pot (we used a 6.5-litre model). Pour over the chilli mix, then add the rest of the wine with the chocolate, cinnamon stick and whole potatoes. Cover and cook on low for 7 hrs until the lamb is really tender and the potatoes are still firm.
• To serve, remove the bones and skin from the lamb and pull the meat apart into large chunks. Chop the potatoes into chunks and skim the fat from the cooking juices. Serve the lamb, potato and juices in bowls with the slaw on top.

DON PEPE'S BARBACOA

Steps:

• Soak the chickpeas in water overnight. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).
• Score the skin of the lamb with a very sharp knife. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large cast-iron casserole over high heat, sear the lamb on all sides in the olive oil. Transfer to a plate.
• In the same casserole, add the onions and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas, ancho chiles, garlic, epazote and water. Put the lamb back in the casserole. Cover with cactus leaves if using. Cover the pot. Cook in the oven until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender, about 6 hours.
• Just before bringing to the table, stir in chopped epazote. Serve with salsa, chopped onions, cilantro, lime wedges and tortillas.

SLOW-COOKER BARBACOA

Steps:

• Cut a slit in the side of each garlic clove. Place them in a microwaveable bowl, cover with plastic wrap, poke holes in the top and microwave for 30 seconds on high. Cool until handleable, then slip off the papery husks.
• One by one, drop the garlic cloves into a running food processor, letting each get thoroughly chopped before adding the next. Add the chile powder, cumin, black pepper, vinegar, salt and water and pulse to blend.
• Place the meat in a large crock pot. Scrape the marinade onto the meat, then spread it sloppily over the top and sides. Pour enough water into the slow-cooker to cover the lower 1/2 inch of roast. Cover and slow cook on high for 6 hours or until meat is tender. Carefully remove meat with a slotted spoon onto a large plate, pulling away the bones.
• Degrease the cooking broth and boil it down in a saucepan to concentrate the flavors. Ladle it over the meat and garnish with the onions and cilantro.

BARBACOA

Steps:

• Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place the dried guajillo chiles into the skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until the color changes and the chiles have puffed, about 5 minutes. Set the chiles aside to cool for a moment. Meanwhile, toast the cumin and cloves in the hot skillet until the cumin seeds begin to pop; remove from the pan and set aside. Remove and discard the stems, seeds, and veins of the chiles, and place into a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over top, and cover. Let the chiles soak for 1 hour.
• Grind the toasted cumin and cloves into a powder, and place into a blender. Add the ancho chile powder, onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, vinegar, and lime juice. Remove the chiles from the soaking water, and place into the blender along with 1/3 cup of the soaking liquid. Cover, and blend until a smooth paste forms.
• Place the beef roast into a mixing bowl, and pour the guajillo chile past over top. Coat the roast on all sides with the paste, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
• Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Transfer the roast and marinade to a roasting pan, and arrange the bay leaves over top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven until the meat is very tender and is easily pulled apart with a fork, about 6 hours. Let stand, covered, at room temperature for 1 hour before discarding the bay leaves and shredding with two forks.