Best Guadalajara Beef Recipes

BEEF BIRRIA

Steps:

• Season the meat with salt and pepper, then place in a large baking dish.
• Clean and devein the peppers. Slightly toast them over a medium heat, making sure you do not burn them (burned peppers make the dish taste bitter). Soak peppers in a cup of hot water for 20 minutes. Roast the onion and garlic and place in your blender.
• Toast the whole cloves, cumin seeds, and black peppercorns (this is a quick step that only takes a few seconds). Place them in your blender along with the roasted tomatoes, herbs, onion, cinnamon and the vinegar.
• Once peppers are soft, drain, add to the blender and puree until you have a smooth sauce. Add a few tablespoons of water only if your blender is having a hard time processing it. Season the sauce with salt.
• Pour the sauce over the meat, making sure it is covered all over with this sauce of dried peppers and spices. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours to allow all the meat to absorb the flavors. SEE NOTES about adding more water.
• Preheat the oven to 350º F. Bake the meat in the baking dish covered with the aluminum foil for about 4 hours or until it is fork-tender.

CARNE EN SU JUGO

Steps:

• Finely cut the meat into thin slices and then into small cubes. Place the meat in a glass bowl. Mix soy sauce, lime juice, and pepper and add to the meat. Let the meat marinate for a few minutes while you cook the bacon.
• Fry bacon in a medium-size Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel and pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot.
• Add the meat to the pot and cook at medium heat for about 8 minutes, during this time the meat will release some of its juices.
• While the meat is cooking, place chopped garlic, onion, cilantro and Serrano pepper into a blender with a cup of the broth and process until well blended. (If you are adding the tomatillos, add them in this step)
• Pour this mixture over the meat, add the rest of the broth, and taste to season with salt as well as ground pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low, place lid to pot and simmer for about 20 minutes or more until meat is tender. This last cooking time will depend on the cut of meat you are using.

BEEF BARBACOA (BARBACOA DE RES)

Steps:

• Place brisket in a stovetop pressure cooker. Add onion, garlic, bay leaves, and salt; cover with water. Close cooker securely and place pressure regulator over vent according to manufacturer's instructions. Heat until steam escapes in a steady flow and makes a whistling sound, about 10 minutes. Adjust temperature until regulator is gently rocking. Cook for 60 minutes.
• Let pressure release naturally according to manufacturer's instructions, 5 to 10 minutes. Unlock lid and remove.
• Remove brisket from the pressure cooker and shred with 2 forks. Strain the cooking liquid, discarding solids. Measure 2 cups for the barbacoa sauce and save the rest for another use.
• Combine guajillo chile peppers and ancho chile peppers in a saucepan. Cover with water, bring to a boil, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand in the hot water until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain.
• Combine softened chile peppers, vinegar, garlic, cloves, allspice, black pepper, oregano, thyme, cumin, ginger, cinnamon and reserved 2 cups cooking liquid; blend until thick and very smooth.
• Pour sauce into a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and season with salt. Bring to a soft boil; reduce the heat to low. Stir in shredded beef, coating completely with sauce. Cover pot and cook until flavors combine, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.

GRILLED BEEF FAJITAS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill over medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates with vegetable oil. Toss the garlic, onions, poblanos and bell peppers with the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and spread onto a 20-inch-long piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bring the 2 sides together and fold over twice to seal. Bring the ends of the foil in and up and seal. Set aside.
• Stack the tortillas and wrap in a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Set aside.
• Toss the pieces of skirt steak with the lime juice in a medium bowl and then sprinkle with the cumin, coriander, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Place the steak and the vegetable packet on the grill. Cook the steak, flipping once, until the meat is cooked to medium, 7 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness. Cook the vegetable packet, flipping over once, until the vegetables are soft and lightly charred, about 12 minutes.
• Transfer the steak to a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes. While the steak is resting, place the tortilla packet on the grill and cook, flipping once, until just warmed and pliable, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Thinly slice the steak and place on a large platter. Open the vegetable foil packet (being careful of steam), toss with the chopped cilantro and place next to the steak on the serving platter. Place the lime wedges, whole cilantro leaves, sour cream and pickled jalapenos on the side for topping the fajitas. Serve with the warm tortillas.

SHREDDED BEEF IN GUAJILLO SAUCE (CARNE DESHEBRADA EN SALSA ROJA )

Steps:

• Cook beef:
• Put all beef ingredients in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot with 1 teaspoon salt and enough water (about 2 quarts) to cover beef. Simmer, partially covered, skimming foam and adding more hot water if necessary to keep beef covered, until tender, about 2 hours.
• Remove beef and shred (once cool).
• Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids, and skim off fat.
• Make sauce:
• Preheat broiler.
• Toss tomatoes with 1 tablespoons oil in a 4-sided sheet pan. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat until softened and charred, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Slit guajillo chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed. Heat a dry heavy medium skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles in 2 batches, opened flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until more pliable and slightly changed in color, about 30 seconds per batch. Transfer to a bowl and soak in hot water to cover until softened, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Toast peppercorns, cumin seeds, allspice, and clove in hot skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and a shade darker, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to a blender.
• Drain soaked chiles and purée in blender with toasted spices, broiled tomatoes, onion, garlic, 3 chiles de árbol, 2 cups broth, and 1 teaspoon salt until smooth, about 2 minutes. For a spicier sauce, add remaining 2 chiles de árbol and purée again.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in cleaned pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then slowly add sauce, stirring (it will spatter), and simmer, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Add beef and 1 cup broth (reserve remainder for another use) and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until meat is heated through, about 5 minutes.

SKIRT STEAK, GUADALAJARA STYLE

Steps:

• 1. Trim the steaks of excess fat and the tough silver skin. Rub the meat all over with lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Let the meat stand at room temperature while preparing a hot barbecue fire. When the coals are hot, brush the steaks with oil and grill over hot coals, about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until well marked on the outside and still pink and juicy inside for medium rate, or adjust time for desired doneness. Let the meat stand 5 minutes before serving. 2. Meanwhile, put the onion on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with a little oil, wrap the foil around the onion, and cook until crisp tender, 6 to 8 minutes, on the outside edge of the grill, turning the foil packet once or twice while the onion cooks. Wrap the tortillas in foil and warm on the grill, turning 2 to 3 times, while the meat cooks. To serve, scatter the onions equally on top of each steak. Serve with green salsa and tortillas on the side.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

GRILLED BEEF FAJITAS

Steps:

• Mix all of the southwestern spice rub ingredients, coat the beef with the rub - rubbing it in well on both sides - and set aside. (Or refrigerate for a few hours.).
• Peel and slice the onions.
• Remove the seeds from the peppers and slice.
• Cook the pepper and onion slices in olive oil (cast iron pan recommended) until they are slightly wilted.
• Grill the beef over medium flame (or cast iron pan on the stove top), flipping midway through cooking time, to your desired doneness. It typically takes about 7-10 minute for medium rare.grills/cooking times vary.
• Warm up the tortillas by heating on the grill or in a dry pan on the stove.
• After letting the beef rest for about 5 minutes, slice it across the grain in about half-inch slices.
• Serve with the warm tortillas, the pepper and onions, the salsa, and the sour cream on the side.