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| Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon |
I did not eat these tacos growing up. I discovered this recipe when I got tired of eating ground meat tacos when our children were younger. Over the years we have used various recipes, most of them with the same ingredients. This maybe the longest prep time I'll post here, but the sauce can be prepared the night before (which of course I never do myself.)
To make this, we use a crock pot. Slowly cooking the beef in the pepper sauce for 6+ hours creates a tender meat that falls apart when you touch it. My wife really picks through the meat, getting all the fat and gristle out. I love this a day later after its had time to sit and meld the flavors, putting it over rice and beans.
If your dorm kitchen lets you use a crockpot, this is perfect. Pair it with Mexican Rice from your rice cooker and a can of beans heated up in the microwave. Add your own extras--cheese, lettuce, guacamole, radishes (for crunch), and as always, corn tortillas.
Braised Cola Tacos
1 hunk of beef--doesn't matter what kind, its going to slow cook for hours.
2-3 dried Ancho peppers*
2-3 dried guajillo peppers*
1/2 onion diced
2-3 garlic cloves chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon oregano
1 can Mexican Cola (for the real sugar!)
salt/pepper to taste
olive oil
Directions
1. Wipe the peppers dry, tear them into pieces. If you can fry them in a little olive oil until you can smell them. After a few minutes add the diced onion, chopped garlic and the tomatoes.** Sauté everything until the onions are cooked through. Add the cumin and oregano. Add one and a half cups of water to the pan and simmer for around 10-15 minutes.
NOTE 1:
1. If you can't fry in your dorm kitchen, simple put the peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes in a microwave safe bowl and cover with the water. Heat the water and let the dried peppers soften. Add the spices as well. There will be a subtle difference in taste.
2. Carefully pour everything into a blender and process until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. If you want, you can pour the sauce through a strainer first. I don't bother, I prefer the unstrained texture.
3. Place the meat in your crockpot and pour the sauce over the meat, turning the meat to make sure its covered. If you need to cook the meat faster, cut it into chunks before placing it in the crockpot. Add 1 cup of the cola and drink the rest on the way to your first class.
4. If you have the time, cook on low.
5. Serve and enjoy.
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At times we have added coriander, different dried peppers, and even used different types of onions (red, white, sweet...)
* Add the peppers you want for the taste you want and the heat you want.
** If you don't have canned tomatoes, dice a few until you have about a cup. Add the diced tomatoes and the liquid off your cutting board to the pan. The taste won't be affected.
This is the recipe we follow the most:
https://www.sunset.com/recipe/cola-shredded-beef-tacos
The photo up top is from the site linked above. I'll add one of my own when I can find one.
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