Cheek Meat Birria De Res

Featuring:
Rumba Meats® Beef Cheek Meat

6 Servings

Original Blog & Recipe by
Sonia Mendez Garcia

My name is Sonia Mendez Garcia. Born and raised in California, but I have lived in Texas and since 1986, I call central New York my home. My parents Ramiro and Blanca were born in Monterrey, Mexico and raised a family of five girls and three boys. The kitchen was always a focal point in our house. With Rumba Meats, I can prepare all of my favorite recipes that my Mom prepared with such love and attention for our family.

See more of my recipes

Birria De Res

Birra De Res

Birria is a spicy stew, most often prepared with goat meat, but also very popular to prepare using beef. A dish that originated in Jalisco, Mexico and served for any special occasion, such as weddings, baptisms and holidays. But, I say that any day can be a special occasion. Finding food ingredients that remind you of home is special enough for me! In this case, I speak of the hard to find beef cheek that I enjoyed so much growing up. These days it is much easier to find thanks to Rumba Meats and their good quality meat products. I have to refrain from purchasing too much for lack of space in my freezer, lol! So when I get that craving for barbacoa tacos or tortas(Mexican sandwiches), I keep one package in my freezer. For today’s recipe, I decided to add a basic chile sauce that is often used to prepare birria. So, with a little help from my slow cooker overnight, I had the most tender beef cheek to work with the next day. This would make a great recipe for game day parties. Perfect for sliders or nachos! Oh, and tacos of course! #tacoseveryday #mexicanfood

Birra De Res 2

Directions

Trim excess fat from beef cheek and place into slow cooker. Add the bouillon powder, pepper, garlic and 3 cups of water. Turn onto low and cook overnight. Remove beef from broth. Strain the broth and skim fat off the top.

Remove the stems and seeds from dried chiles. Add the chiles, garlic and oil to a small sauce pan and heat to medium/low. Once chiles begin to soften in the oil, add 1 cup of water. Simmer for 10 minutes.

To the blender add the chiles, garlic, 1 cup fresh water and 1 cup ofcooking liquid from chiles. Add remaining ingredients listed for sauce. Blend on high for 30 seconds. Push down with spatula and blend on high for 30 more seconds, making sure there are no large pieces left. Using a wire mesh strainer, strain the sauce.

Preheat 1 tablespoon of oil to medium heat for a few minutes. Add the strained chile sauce and cook at a steady simmer for 5 minutes. Add beef broth from slow cooker, plus 1 more cup of chicken broth. Stir well to combine and cook for 15 minutes. Add the beef cheek to simmering pot and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes.

Serve with warm tortillas, bolillo rolls. Garnish with cilantro, onion, Chile serrano and lime. Yields up to 6 servings.

Ingredients

Beef Cheek in Slow Cooker

Rumba Meats® Beef Cheek Meat (3 pounds)
2 teaspoons chicken or beef bouillon powder
1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
3 cups water, 2 bay leaves

Chile Sauce

5 dried chile california or guajillo
6 dried chile morita
4 cloves garlic
1/3 cup oil
2 cups water, reserve 1 cup
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano and 1 teaspoon cumin
1 inch piece of Mexican cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon ground clove
6-8 peppercorns
2 teaspoons chicken or beef bouillon powder

Recipe Notes

No Mexican cinnamon? Just add 1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon when blending the sauce.

Instructions

Trim excess fat from beef cheek and place into slow cooker. Add the bouillon powder, pepper, garlic and 3 cups of water. Turn onto low and cook overnight. Remove beef from broth. Strain the broth and skim fat off the top.
Remove the stems and seeds from dried chiles. Add the chiles, garlic and oil to a small sauce pan and heat to medium/low. Once chiles begin to soften in the oil, add 1 cup of water. Simmer for 10 minutes.
To the blender add the chiles, garlic, 1 cup fresh water and 1 cup of cooking liquid from chiles. Add remaining ingredients listed for sauce. Blend on high for 30 seconds. Push down with spatula and blend on high for 30 more seconds, making sure there are no large pieces left. Using a wire mesh strainer, strain the sauce.
Preheat 1 tablespoon of oil to medium heat for a few minutes. Add the strained chile sauce and cook at a steady simmer for 5 minutes. Add beef broth from slow cooker, plus 1 more cup of chicken broth. Stir well to combine and cook for 15 minutes. Add the beef cheek to simmering pot and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes.
Serve with warm tortillas, bolillo rolls. Garnish with cilantro, onion, Chile serrano and lime.