Shredded Beef Tacos (Carne Deshebrada) - ATK

It is recommended that you use a full-bodied lager or ale such as Dos Equis or Bohemia beer. If you cannot find queso fresco, you can substitute feta. If you do not have a tight fitting lid for your dutch oven, you can use heavy-duty aluminum foil and then place the lid on top. Best practice to warm the tortillas is to place them on a plate, cover them with a damp dish towel, and microwave them for 60-90 seconds. This shredded beef mixture also makes a great filling for tamales, chiles rellenos and empanadas.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• Beef

• 1 1⁄2 cups beer
• 1⁄2 cup cider vinegar
• 2  ounces dried ancho chiles (4-6 stemmed seeded and torn into 1-inch pieces)
• 2  tablespoons tomato paste
• 6  garlic cloves (lightly crushed and peeled)
• 3  bay leaves
• 2  teaspoons ground cumin
• 2  teaspoons dried oregano
•  salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  large onion (sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds)
• 3  lbs boneless beef short ribs, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes (or 3 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes)

• Cabbage-Carrot Slaw

• 1  cup cider vinegar
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1  tablespoon sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 1⁄2 head green cabbage (cored and sliced thin (6 cups)
• 1  onion (sliced thin)
• 1  large carrot (peeled and shredded)
• 1  jalapeno chile (stemmed, seeded and minced)
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 1  cup  fresh cilantro (chopped)
• 18  corn tortillas (6-inch diameter, warmed)
• 4  ounces queso fresco (1 cup crumbled)
•  lime wedge

Directions

1. For the Beef:
2. Position your oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Meanwhile while the oven heats, combine the beer, vinegar, anchos, tomato paste, garlic, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, cloves and cinnamon in a Dutch oven. Arrange the onion rounds in a single layer on bottom of the pot. Place the beef on top of onion rounds, in a single layer. Cover and cook until the meat is well browned and tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
3. For the Cabbage-Carrot Slaw:
4. While your beef mixture is cooking whisk the vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Add the cabbage, onion, carrot, jalepeño, and oregano and toss to combine. Cover and then refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Drain this slaw mixture and stir in the cilantro right before serving.
5. To Finish:
6. Using a slotted spoon, transfer your beef mixture to a large bowl, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and set aside. Strain the meat mixture's left over liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup (mind to not wash the pot). Discard the onion rounds and the bay leaves. Transfer the remaining solids to a blender. Let the strained liquid settle for 5 minutes, then skim any fat off surface. Add the water as needed to equal 1 cup. Pour this liquid in blender with reserved solids and blend until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer sauce to the now-empty pot.
7. Using two forks or meat rakes, shed beef into bite-size pieces. Bring the sauce to simmer over medium heat. Add the shredded beef and stir and coat. Season with salt to taste. (this beef can be refrigerated for up to 2 days; gently reheat before serving.).
8. Spoon small amounts of the beef mixture into each warm tortilla and serve, provide plenty of slaw, queso fresco and lime wedges separately.