03/11/2026
Beef Birria Tacos or Nachos!
Slow-braised, fall-apart beef in a rich, smoky spiced broth, stuffed in crispy corn tortillas with melty cheese, and dunked in consomé. Makes about 12 tacos, or use the meat for loaded nachos (see below).
Ingredients
• Sweet paprika: 2 tbsp
• Cajun spice mix: 2 tbsp
• Cajun chilli powder: 1 tbsp
• 720 ml beef stock
• 15 ml vegetable oil
• 1.8 kg beef chuck roast, cut into large pieces
• Salt, to taste
• 1 white onion
• 8 g cumin seeds
• 12 garlic cloves
• 150 g tomato purée
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cloves
• 3 g black peppercorns
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
To serve
• Corn tortillas
• Pizza blend and mozzarella
• Lime wedges
• Guacamole
• Jalapeño dressing
Method
1. Season the beef with salt and sear in oil in batches until golden. Set aside.
2. Blend the paprika, Cajun spice mix, Cajun chilli powder, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano and about 360 ml of the stock until smooth.
3. Pour the blend through a fine mesh sieve over the beef. Add the tomato purée, cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, vinegar and enough extra stock to come ¾ of the way up the beef.
4. Cover and braise for 3½-4 (turn the beef half way through) hours at 150C until the beef falls apart.
5. Strain the liquid. Put half in a bowl with chopped cilantro and onion for your consomé, then shred the beef and toss it in the other half.
6. Dip each tortilla in the consomé, add cheese, beef and more cheese, and fold.
7. Fry on medium heat until golden, drizzle a little consomé on top before flipping, then cook the other side.
8. Serve with consomé for dipping, plus lime, cilantro and onion.
Bonus: Birria Loaded Nachos 🧀
The meat makes amazing nachos too. You’ll need 2 bags of Tostitos “Splash of Lime” chips, a pizza blend and grated mozzarella mix, and your consomé.
1. Spread one bag of chips on a tray and top with half the birria meat and 2-3 handfuls of the cheese mix. Drizzle with consomé.
2. Repeat with the second bag, the rest of the meat, more cheese and more consomé.
3. Roast until the cheese is melted.