Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Shredded Beef Tacos

I cannot believe I forgot to blog about this dish! Remember when I made the adobo sauce many moons ago?! Well, there was a purpose for that sauce, and I was supposed to share with you all this dish I'm posting today.

What a bad food blogger I am!! I must have been distracted by something sweet or something because this dish was fantastic. Along with this flavorful beef, I made arroz mexicano (yes, I used the same recipe. I guess I used more red tomatoes the first time and tomatillos/regular tomatoes this time. I don't remember.) and tortillas de harina or flour tortillas.
The good thing about the beef is that you make it in the crockpot. You could also make the tortillas the day before by rolling them out, placing the uncooked, flattened discs of dough between wax paper, place them all in a freezer bag, and keep them in the refrigerator (or freezer for a longer amount of storage). The next day, you take them out and cook them on a comal, cast-iron skillet, or some very hot oven-top surface.
The arroz can be made ahead of time, too, but it tastes better when it is first made. I grated monterey jack and lots of cheddar cheese. I also used a bunch of jalapeños. These jalapeños weren't very spicy, so I could handle a bunch of them for added flavor and zing.

I apologize for holding out on this amazing dish. It was truly perfect. I wish I could make some more right now, but I haven't been in the kitchen much these days. I think I've lost my mojo for now. I hope to get back in the kitchen very soon.

Shredded Beef Tacos
adapted from Gimme Some Oven and Baking Addiction

1-2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 pounds beef (boneless chuck roast)
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 cup beef stock or broth
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced (homemade version here!)
1/2 large sweet onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Flour tortillas, homemade or store-bought

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, combine the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika in a small bowl.

Rub the spice mix into the beef, covering each side evenly. Once the oil is hot (it will shimmer a bit in the skillet), place the beef in the skillet and sear on each side. Do NOT MOVE the meat while it cooks for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Remove the beef from the skillet, and place in the bottom of a slow cooker. Leave the pan on the heat, and add in the beef stock to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the tomato paste and minced chipotle or adobo sauce, and whisk into the pan sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened slightly.

Add the diced onion and minced garlic on top of the seared beef in the slow cooker. Pour the pan sauce down over the onions, garlic, and beef. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Remove the beef from the slow cooker, and shred with two forks. Use a slotted spoon to remove the onions from the slow cooker, and mix into the shredded beef.

Serve the beef in the flour tortillas, topped with your favorite taco toppings, such as fresh salsa like pico de gallo, frijoles refritos, arroz mexicano, etc.

24 comments:

  1. Now this is my kind of meal! Everything looks fantastic.

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  2. Omigosh this looks GOOD! Now I'm totally craving Mexican food...specifically, these tacos!!

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  3. Girl, I don't even eat beef and I want some of these tacos!!!!! They look greaaaaaat!
    Hmmmmm . . now, if I could just substitute chicken . . . :o)

    Good job, Memoria! I love your attention to detail and your commentary and meta-commentary is awesome!

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  4. OK, you know this has got to be amazing when even a vegetarian wants some of it! Seriously, this looks so good, I am thinking of making a veggie version with beans. I love the flour tortillas. They look heavenly!

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  5. Now why were you holding back on this one? I don't have a crockpot. It is one thing on my list. Do you have any special equipment to make the tortillas?

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  6. This is plain evil :)

    It's 7:50am and this posting is making me so hungry. I'm going to try this one on my stovetop since I don't have a crockpot.

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  7. Looks incredible. I cant believe you forgot to post it too. Must be a lot of food going on on that would make you forget!

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  8. Those tortilla's look so good and the meat.....sigh I can almost taste it.... it makes me what to break my no beef lifestyle, for just a few minutes to taste them...killer recipe!!

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  9. Bravo, nos encanta todo lo que cocinas y todo lo que nos explicas. Todo es maravilloso. Un beso.

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  10. This looks SO delicious! (and gorgeous pictures, too!)

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  11. Mmm, this looks so good, thanks for the recipe.
    Now I'm hungry for this and it's only morning!

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  12. That rice looks heavenly in the last photo. Delish

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  13. Yum, that looks absolutely finger-licking. Gorgeous!

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  14. Gorgeous dish, and the arroz mexicano looks especially delicious. I'm glad you (finally) managed to share it with us!

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  15. This looks delicious! I am soo going to try the beef recipe, this week.

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  16. Oh, these sound perfect for dinner tonight. I might be sending my hubby to the store...

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  17. By the way - I like the new layout. It's changed since I was last here. Very nice.

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  18. I wish I had the energy to make these- they look so good!

    I haven't been in the kitchen much either since I've been sick ALL dang week and I can't really taste anything. Tonight we had grilled cheese and canned soup.

    Hope you get your mojo bak soon!

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  19. You have been holding out on us. Look at the gorgeous sear your got on the meat. Mi familia le encantaría esta comida.

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  20. I seriously LOVE tacos. I like that you left the meat a little chunkier here.

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  21. I've been looking for the perfect shredded beef recipe to use in my aguacates rellenos that I'm making this week... I think this is THE one! Thank you!

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  22. that shredded beef looks charific. nice shots!

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  23. you brave soul...I read that roasting your own jalapenos for chipotle in adobe could smoke you out of the house!

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  24. Perfect and that rice looks amazing too!

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