Birria de Res, Slow Cooker

also called birria · birria tacos · taco de birria · quesabirria · red taco · slow cooker birria · crockpot birria de res

Also written for Instant Pot (4 to wash), the plain way (4 to wash).

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Birria de Res, Slow Cooker: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
Nothing is browned. The colour and the depth come out of the chile adobo and not out of a sear
6(stemmed and seeded)dried guajillo chilestoast the chiles 5 min, dry skilletblend to an adobostrainbraise on low, 8 hrskim the fat, separate the consomé
3(stemmed and seeded)dried ancho chiles
1 large(quartered)white onion
5 clovesgarlic
3 Tbscider vinegar
1 tspground cumin
1 tspMexican oregano
1cinnamon stick
4whole cloves
2bay leaves
1 tspblack peppercorns
2 1/2 cups(590 mL; hot)water
3 lb(1.4 kg; cut in 3-in pieces)beef chuck
1 lb(450 g)beef short ribs
1 Tbskosher salt
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.19 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2toast the chiles 5 min, dry skillet

3blend to an adobo

goes in with what step 2 made

5braise on low, 8 hr

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 8 hr 5 min3 of 5 steps give no time
Needs you
about 5 min
If you get it wrong
Forgiving — the only thing that spoils here is the consomé, and that is a spoon lifting the fat off rather than a clock
What you'll wash
Five things — the slow cooker crock, the skillet for the chiles, the blender jug, the fine-mesh sieve, a cup for the lifted fat
Does it keep
4 days — the fat caps it red and lifts off whole, and the consommé is better on the second day
  1. toast the chiles 5 min, dry skillet

    5 minneeds youfrom the start

  2. blend to an adobo

    not timed5 min in

  3. strain

    not timed5 min in

  4. braise on low, 8 hr

    8 hrwalk away5 min in

  5. skim the fat, separate the consomé

    not timed8 hr 5 min in

You'll need fine-mesh sieve · skillet · slow cooker

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Birria de Res, Slow Cooker
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: beef, chiles, mexican, braise, slow cooker, crock pot
>> counters: The Slow Cooker
>> dish: birria-de-res
>> kit: Slow Cooker
>> aka: birria, birria tacos, taco de birria, quesabirria, red taco, slow cooker birria, crockpot birria de res
>> pairs-with: corn-tortillas, salsa-roja
>> servings: 8
>> time: 8 hr 25 min
>> slack: forgiving — the only thing that spoils here is the consomé, and that is a spoon lifting the fat off rather than a clock
>> washing-up: the slow cooker crock, the skillet for the chiles, the blender jug, the fine-mesh sieve, a cup for the lifted fat
>> keeps: 4 days — the fat caps it red and lifts off whole, and the consommé is better on the second day

Nothing is browned. The colour and the depth come out of the chile adobo and not out of a sear.

>> step: toast the chiles 5 min, dry skillet
Toast @dried guajillo chiles{6}(stemmed and seeded), @dried ancho chiles{3}(stemmed and seeded) in a dry #skillet{} for ~toast{5%min}, until they smell of raisins and before they smell of ash.

>> step: blend to an adobo
Blend @&(~1)toasted chiles{} with @white onion{1%large}(quartered), @garlic{5%cloves}, @cider vinegar{3%Tbs}, @ground cumin{1%tsp}, @Mexican oregano{1%tsp}, @cinnamon stick{1}, @whole cloves{4}, @bay leaves{2}, @black peppercorns{1%tsp}, @water{2 1/2%cup}(590 mL; hot).

>> step: strain
Strain @&(~1)adobo{} through a #fine-mesh sieve{}, pressing the solids to get everything through but the skins.

>> step: braise on low, 8 hr
Slow cook @beef chuck{3%lb}(1.4 kg; cut in 3-in pieces), @beef short ribs{1%lb}(450 g), @kosher salt{1%Tbs} under @&(~1)strained adobo{} in a #slow cooker{} on low for ~slow cook{8%hr}, lid on and left alone.

>> step: skim the fat, separate the consomé
Lift the fat from @&(~1)birria{} with a ladle and keep it: it fries the tortilla. Shred the meat back into a little of the sauce; the rest is consomé.