Cachete, Slow Cooker

also called cachete · cabeza · taco de cabeza · tacos de cachete · beef cheek · barbacoa de cachete · cachetes de res · slow cooker beef cheeks · crockpot cachete

Also written for Instant Pot (1 to wash), the plain way (1 to wash).

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Cachete, Slow Cooker: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
Three quarters of a cup of water where the oven takes two. The cheeks make their own by hour three
3 lb(1.4 kg; trimmed of the tough silverskin)beef cheekssear 10 min in a skillet, both facesbraise on low, 8 hrshred coarse, salt
1 Tbskosher salt
1 tspcoarse black pepper
1 Tbsvegetable oil
1(quartered)white onion
6 clovesgarlic
2bay leaves
1 tspdried Mexican oregano
3whole cloves
2 Tbscider vinegar
2(optional, toasted)avocado leaves
3/4 cup(180 mL)water
1 tspkosher 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.16 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2sear 10 min in a skillet, both faces

3braise on low, 8 hr

goes in with what step 2 made

4shred coarse, salt

goes in with what step 3 made

Cooking it

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

The clock

Start to finish
at least 8 hr 10 min1 of 3 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 10 min
If you get it wrong
Forgiving — this pot cannot boil hard enough to overshoot a cheek, so the only way to lose it is to stop early
What you'll wash
Two things — the slow cooker crock, the skillet
Does it keep
4 days — the cheeks only soften further and the broth sets to a jelly you spoon straight back in
  1. sear 10 min in a skillet, both faces

    10 minneeds youfrom the start

  2. braise on low, 8 hr

    8 hrwalk away10 min in

  3. shred coarse, salt

    not timed8 hr 10 min in

You'll need skillet · slow cooker

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Cachete, Slow Cooker
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: beef, cheek, mexican, braise, tacos, slow cooker, crock pot
>> counters: The Slow Cooker
>> dish: cachete
>> kit: Slow Cooker
>> aka: cachete, cabeza, taco de cabeza, tacos de cachete, beef cheek, barbacoa de cachete, cachetes de res, slow cooker beef cheeks, crockpot cachete
>> pairs-with: corn-tortillas, salsa-verde
>> servings: 6
>> time: 8 hr 20 min
>> slack: forgiving — this pot cannot boil hard enough to overshoot a cheek, so the only way to lose it is to stop early
>> washing-up: the slow cooker crock, the skillet
>> keeps: 4 days — the cheeks only soften further and the broth sets to a jelly you spoon straight back in

Three quarters of a cup of water where the oven takes two. The cheeks make their own by hour three.

>> step: sear 10 min in a skillet, both faces
Sear @beef cheeks{3%lb}(1.4 kg; trimmed of the tough silverskin) seasoned with @kosher salt{1%Tbs}, @coarse black pepper{1%tsp} in @vegetable oil{1%Tbs} in a #skillet{} for ~sear{10%min}, both faces.

>> step: braise on low, 8 hr
Slow cook @&(~1)seared cheeks{} with @white onion{1}(quartered), @garlic{6%cloves}, @bay leaves{2}, @dried Mexican oregano{1%tsp}, @whole cloves{3}, @cider vinegar{2%Tbs}, @avocado leaves{2}(optional, toasted), @water{3/4%cup}(180 mL) in a #slow cooker{} on low for ~slow cook{8%hr}, lid on.

>> step: shred coarse, salt
Shred @&(~1)braised cheeks{} coarsely with two forks, moistening them with their own liquor, and salt with @kosher salt{1%tsp}.