Birria Blanca and Quesatacos

How to Make a Flavorful Birria Blanca

Birria blanca is a delightful dish perfect for festive gatherings or for those who prefer a milder flavor without sacrificing taste. This fully seasoned recipe calls for a combination of beef bone marrow and chuck, though ribeye can be used for a more luxurious touch. Start by seasoning your beef with salt, then blend together spices including thyme, Mexican oregano, coriander seed, ground cumin, ginger, marjoram, black peppercorns, allspice, clove, and a small piece of cinnamon. Bring your pot to high heat, add the beef bones and chunks, and pour in 13 cups of water. After boiling vigorously for 20 minutes and skimming off impurities, add a large onion, a whole garlic bulb, six bay leaves, the blended spices, and four tablespoons of chicken bouillon. Allow the mixture to cook on medium heat for about two hours until the beef becomes tender and falls apart.

For those who enjoy a bit of spice, a garlic chili oil can be prepared to complement the birria. Blend 20 chiles de árbol into flaky pieces and pour them into a glass container. Heat a cup of oil and fry 12 thinly sliced garlic cloves until golden, then pour this mixture over the pepper flakes. Add salt and cracked pepper to taste. This spicy oil is a versatile condiment that enhances the flavor of birria and other dishes. Once the beef is tender, remove a few pieces to make taquitos and shred the beef, being mindful of any tough tissue that may not soften completely.

To explore a different way of enjoying birria, try making birria asada by toasting the shredded beef in a skillet until it is seared on each side. This takes about 6 to 8 minutes and adds a delightful texture. You can also create birria quesa tacos by adding the seared beef to quesadillas along with onions, cilantro, and a bit of garlic chili oil. Serve with a side of consomé, a flavorful broth that pairs beautifully with the tacos. Whether you choose to enjoy your birria with consomé or in taco form, this dish is sure to be a hit. Let us know your preference in the comments, and happy cooking!

Ingredients (30 people or more):

• 12 pounds of chuck roast beef 

• 2 pounds of beef bone (bone marrow or beef ribs work great)

• 13 to 15 cups of water (make sure to cover beef fully with water)

• 1 tbsp of salt to season beef 

• 1 tbsp thyme 

• 1 tbsp Mexican oregano 

• 1 tbsp coriander seed

• 1/2 tbsp ground cumin 

• 1/2 tbsp ginger powder

• 1/2 tbsp marjoram (skip if you don’t have access to it)

• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns (or 1 1/2 tsp black pepper)

• 6 whole allspice (or 1 1/2 tsp allspice)

• 6 pieces of cloves (or 1 1/2 tsp ground cloves)

• Small piece of cinnamon 

• 1 large white onion 

• 6 bay leaves

• 4 tbsp of chicken bouillon (adjust to taste once birria is fully cooked)

Taco ingredients:

• corn tortillas

• chihuahua cheese

• chopped white onion
  

• cilantro 
  

Ingredients for 15+ people:

• 6 pounds of chuck roast beef 

• 6 to 8 cups of water (make sure to cover beef fully with water)

• 1 pound of beef bone (bone marrow or beef ribs work great)

• 1 1/2 tsp of salt to season beef 

• 1 1/2 tsp thyme 

• 1 1/2 tsp Mexican oregano 

• 1 1/2 tsp coriander seed

• 1 tsp ground cumin 

• 1 tsp ginger powder

• 1 tsp marjoram (skip if you don’t have access to it)

• 1/4 tsp black peppercorns (or 1/2 tsp black pepper)

• 3 whole allspice (or 1/2 tsp allspice)

• 3 pieces of cloves (or 1/4 tsp ground cloves)

• Small piece of cinnamon (half of what’s shown on video 52:09)

• 1 medium white onion 

• 3 bay leaves

• 1 1/2 tbsp of chicken bouillon (adjust to taste once birria is fully cooked)

Instructions:

1. Season the beef with salt. 

2. Blend thyme, Mexican oregano, coriander seed, cumin, ginger, marjoram, peppercorns, allspice, cloves, cinnamon. 

3. Boil beef bones and beef in water, remove impurities, then add onion, garlic, bay leaves, blended spices, chicken bouillon. Cook until beef is tender. 

4. Make garlic chili oil by blending chiles de árbol and mixing with hot oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. 

5. Shred the beef, optionally sear it in a skillet for birria asada. 

6. Make quesadillas with the beef, onions, and cilantro. 

7. Serve with consomé (broth) and garlic chili oil for dipping.

Tips

-Keep a close watch when warming your oil as it can burn quickly.

-30 servings with a 15-quart pot or 10-quart pot https://amzn.to/3x5ozoo

-15 servings  with 8-quart pot https://amzn.to/4asO4ON Feel free to customize the recipe to your liking and preferences. Enjoy your fully seasoned birria blanca following these steps!

Watch on YouTube