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Birria (Mexican Goat and Chile Stew)





Yields
Serves 6 to 8



Total Time
5 hrs

Roy Choi, executive chef and cofounder of the Kogi taco trucks in L.A., loves the Guadalajara-style birria at El Parian restaurant (also in L.A.) This version, with its spicy broth and super-tender, chile-infused rib meat, is loosely based on El Parian's. Serve it with hot thick corn tortillas, sliced radishes, cilantro springs, chopped white onion, and wedges of lime.

 5 pounds kid goat (cabrito) ribs*, cut into 3- to 4-in. pieces by a butcher
  About 2 tsp. kosher salt
 8 dried guajillo chiles*
 4 dried ancho chiles*
 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
 2 teaspoons piloncillo* or packed dark brown sugar
 1/2 teaspoon each cumin seeds and dried Mexican oregano
 6 whole cloves
 1 cup drained canned fire-roasted tomatoes or 2 fresh tomatoes, roasted in a frying pan until browned
Step 1
1

Put meat on a baking sheet, pat dry, then rub all over with 2 tsp. salt.

Step 2
2

Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan; cover and remove from heat. Meanwhile, stem chiles. Heat a cast-iron skillet or heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Toast chiles in batches, pressing flat against pan's surface with tongs and turning to toast evenly, until lightly browned and fragrant about 2 minutes per batch. Add chiles to hot water as they're toasted and soak, covered, until soft, about 20 minutes.

Step 3
3

Toast garlic cloves in same frying pan, turning until browned all over. When cool enough to handle, peel.

Step 4
4

Transfer chiles to a blender (reserve liquid) and whirl with garlic, vinegar, and piloncillo. Grind cumin, oregano, and cloves in an electric spice blender or in a mortar, then add to blender with 1/4 cup chile-soaking liquid. Whirl to make a thick paste, adding a little more soaking water if needed.

Step 5
5

Smear paste over meat, cover, and chill at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Step 6
6

Preheat oven to 325°. Put a metal cooling rack in a roasting pan (large enough to hold meat in a single layer) and pour in 3 cups water. If water comes above rack, elevate rack with cookie cutters. Arrange meat on rack. Cover pot with a big sheet of heavy foil and crinkle foil around edge to seal tightly. Bake until meat is very tender, 4 to 4 1/2 hours.

Step 7
7

Transfer meat to a rimmed baking sheet and cover with foil. Measure broth, skim off fat, and add enough water to make 3 cups.

Step 8
8

Whirl tomatoes in a blender until smooth, then whirl in broth. Strain into a saucepan and heat over medium heat until steaming.

Step 9
9

Divide hunks of meat among 6 soup bowls and ladle about 1/2 cup broth over each. Season with more salt to taste.

Step 10
10

*Find cabrito, guajillo and ancho chiles, and piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar) at Latino markets. You can often order cabrito through butcher shops too.

Step 11
11

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving (calculated with lamb; goat data unavailable).

Nutrition Facts

0 servings

Serving size

Amount per serving
Calories691
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 28g36%

Saturated Fat 9.7g49%
Cholesterol 261mg87%
Sodium 687mg30%
Total Carbohydrate 19g7%

Dietary Fiber 2.5g9%
Protein 84g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.