Mexico is known for many great things, among them delicious snacks and rich cuisine. Their street food is a must-have, and people have brought it into their kitchens. In this article, you will learn how to make one such delicious meal that originates from Mexico. If there is any word that Mexico is famous for, then it is the taco. This folded piece of pastry that holds delicacies at the center defines Mexican cuisine like no other. Among the most popular tacos is the Birria Quesa Tacos.
Mexican Birria Quesa Tacos (Origin and Curiosities)
Birria dates back centuries with its origin based in Jalisco, Mexico. The stew was served in big celebrations and cookouts. Over the years, this stew has been found to act as a great hangover cure, required after celebrations. Birria Quesa tacos were first created in Tijuana, Mexico, getting inspiration from the traditional Jalisco birria stew.
Traditionally made using goat meat, this taco comes is commonly prepared using beef but there are other variants. The variants include other types of meat including chicken and pork. Vegans too have come up with their meatless recipes.
The Birria is a beef stew that is made from beef with the bones on. The bones add to the richness of the broth which means they have to be boiled for a long time to leach out the nutrients. This is the same process that is used to prepare the filling for your Birria Quesa Tacos.
Quesabirria Tacos Trend in the US
The delicious meal has found its way into the hearts of many US residents. What makes it a hit is its attractive color, the meat, the crispness, and the mess this taco brings to its eaters. While Quesabirria tacos started trending with the Los Angeles Latino community, it has now traveled from coast to coast where people of all walks of life are desperately looking for a bite of the birria. The dish has become a hot topic on Instagram and Tik Tok, with many people trying to prepare it.
These birria tacos have become among the most famous tacos you will find on social media and in Mexican restaurants in the US. Photos of these delicious tacos with the crispy and fried meat and cheese sticking out, being dipped in a deep red consomé are enough to have you looking for some.
Among the many reasons why the quesabirria tacos have become a trend in the US is their deliciousness. Also, who doesn’t love tacos? And when they come with such an appetizing color and look, they are likely to become a hit.
Birria Quesa Tacos Recipe
Here is a simple birria quesa tacos recipe to try out, plus some useful tips!
Birria Ingredients
- 3 Morita chiles, dried
- 5 guajillo chiles, dried
- 11/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 3 pasilla chiles
- 2 lb. beef chunks roast or beef brisket
- 10 garlic cloves
- 2 lb. short ribs, oxtails, or beef shank
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Black pepper freshly ground
- 6 cloves
- 3 halved Roma tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 c. white wine vinegar
- 11/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 5 bay leaves
- 1 big onion, quartered
Quesa Tacos Ingredients
- Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Corn tortillas
- 1 big white onion chopped finely for topping
- Fresh cilantro, finely chopped for garnishing
- Lime wedges for garnishing
Birria Method
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheight. In a big, Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, add guajillo, pasilla, and Morita chiles over medium heat. Toast the chiles for up to two minutes while moving them frequently to avoid burning them. Remove the chiles and put them in a medium bowl. Add enough boiling water to the bowl to cover them, up to three cups. To completely submerge the chiles, use a small bowl or plate. Let them sit for 220 minutes or until they get pliable and rehydrated. Remove your chiles and reserve the liquid.
- As your chiles soak, season your beef with pepper and salt. Increase the heat in the pot or Dutch oven o medium-high and add the vegetable oil. In small batches, sear your beef completely for up to seven minutes on each side for the roast/brisket and up to five minutes for the bone-in parts. Remove your seared beef to a cutting board or a plate.
- Add garlic, the rehydrated chiles, cloves, oregano, cinnamon stick, cumin seeds, vinegar, tomatoes, and 11/2 cups of the chile liquid in a blender. Blend everything for around a minute or until you get a flowing paste.
- Put back the beef in the Dutch oven and put it on the stove over medium heat. Add the bay leaves and the quartered onion. Add enough water and chile paste lightly to cover the beef. Bring your birria to a simmer.
- Remove your Dutch oven from the heat. Cover it and transfer it to the preheated oven. Braise your birria for up to 3/4 hours or until your beef becomes fork-tender. Remove the onion and bay leaves and transfer the beef to a cutting board. Save all the consomé or broth for later use. Shred your beef and set it aside.
- Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Depending on how you prefer your birria, you might choose to thin your broth by adding water, beef, or chicken broth. Bring the consomé to a simmer. Taste it and adjust the seasoning.
- You can put your birria in airtight containers and store it in the fridge. Remember to separate the meat and the broth. These can remain fresh in the fridge for up to five days.
If you end up making more birria than you need to prepare your tacos, you can opt to freeze it. Birria can stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months. Before freezing the stew, put it in freezer-safe containers or bags.
Quesa Tacos Method
- Bring your consomé to simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat. You should notice a layer of dark-red-looking oil/fat on the surface. Prepare a taco station that includes a plancha or cast-iron pan heated over medium heat, your consomé simmering on the stove, corn tortillas to the side, and a plate of your shredded beef from the birria. Also, include small bowls full of shredded Oaxaca cheese, chopped onions, and cilantro.
- Work in batches and scoop around 1/3 cup of beef and add it to the plancha or pan. Start reheating and searing the beef while tossing it occasionally for an even browning. Grab one corn tortilla and shallowly dip it into the consomé. You should coat both sides with the dark red fat/oil. Place your tortilla on the plancha or pan and cover it with the Oaxaca cheese.
- Fry the tortilla for around three minutes or until the cheese is almost all melted and the underside has browned and begun to crisp. Add the seared beef on one half of your tortilla and top it with cilantro and white onion. Fold your tortilla into a taco, sear each side for 30 more seconds before removing it from the pan. Repeat the procedure until you have used all your beef.
- Serve your tacos garnished with onion and cilantro and add some lime wedges on the side. Do not forget to include small bowls of consomé for dipping your quesa tacos.
If you need to reheat the stew that is in the freezer, thaw it in the fridge overnight. You can then heat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat for up to ten minutes. Proceed with the above recipe to prepare your birria tacos once your stew is well heated.
If you have leftover quesa birria tacos in the fridge, you can directly fry them on a pan, giving each side up to three minutes to warm through evenly.
Enjoy!
Birria Tacos Calories and Nutrition
If you are worried about whether birria tacos have any nutritional value, here is a breakdown of what you get from this delicious meal.
Generally, tacos are a great source of fiber and protein, which you must agree we all need for proper digestion. If you are trying to watch your diet, you will be happy to learn that birria tacos are not too high on the calories’ side.
However, some extra items and condiments served with birria can increase the number of calories, salt, and fat content. To make your birria quesa tacos healthier, you can alter your recipe. Use fresh and nutritious ingredients while preparing the tacos at home. You can opt for lean beef cuts or white meat such as seafood or chicken for the filling. These protein options have less fat and, still packed with protein.
The best thing about birria quesa tacos is that they are extremely delicious, they don’t contain tons of unhealthy ingredients, and they are filling for any meal, including snack, lunch, or even breakfast. Its ingredients are packed with numerous nutrients that are not only delicious but also healthy. The next time you pop into a Mexican restaurant, ensure that you order one or more of these tacos and you will enjoy the mouth-watering delicacy.
You can also prepare some at home using fresh ingredients. Get your family together this weekend and treat them to some delicious Birria quesa tacos.
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