Guadalajara Beef Recipes

CARNE EN SU JUGO

Steps:

• Finely cut the meat into thin slices and then into small cubes. Place the meat in a glass bowl. Mix soy sauce, lime juice, and pepper and add to the meat. Let the meat marinate for a few minutes while you cook the bacon.
• Fry bacon in a medium-size Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel and pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot.
• Add the meat to the pot and cook at medium heat for about 8 minutes, during this time the meat will release some of its juices.
• While the meat is cooking, place chopped garlic, onion, cilantro and Serrano pepper into a blender with a cup of the broth and process until well blended. (If you are adding the tomatillos, add them in this step)
• Pour this mixture over the meat, add the rest of the broth, and taste to season with salt as well as ground pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low, place lid to pot and simmer for about 20 minutes or more until meat is tender. This last cooking time will depend on the cut of meat you are using.

CARNE EN SU JUGO (MEAT IN ITS JUICES)

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 10 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Crumble the bacon and set aside.
• Combine the tomatillos, serrano peppers, garlic, and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool. Transfer the contents to a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside. You can skip the simmering step and blend all the ingredients raw with a few pieces of browned flank steak if you like.
• Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat; cook the flank steak in the hot skillet until completely browned. Pour the tomatillo mixture over the beef and bring to a boil. Stir the chicken bouillon into the mixture, and reduce heat to medium. Cover the skillet and simmer until tender, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, heat the pinto beans in a saucepan over medium heat until warm; reduce heat to low to keep warm until needed. Stir the bacon and pinto beans into the flank steak mixture; divide the mixture between 6 bowls. Garnish each with onion, cilantro, black pepper, and a lime wedge.

SHREDDED BEEF IN GUAJILLO SAUCE (CARNE DESHEBRADA EN SALSA ROJA )

Steps:

• Cook beef:
• Put all beef ingredients in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot with 1 teaspoon salt and enough water (about 2 quarts) to cover beef. Simmer, partially covered, skimming foam and adding more hot water if necessary to keep beef covered, until tender, about 2 hours.
• Remove beef and shred (once cool).
• Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids, and skim off fat.
• Make sauce:
• Preheat broiler.
• Toss tomatoes with 1 tablespoons oil in a 4-sided sheet pan. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat until softened and charred, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Slit guajillo chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed. Heat a dry heavy medium skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles in 2 batches, opened flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until more pliable and slightly changed in color, about 30 seconds per batch. Transfer to a bowl and soak in hot water to cover until softened, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Toast peppercorns, cumin seeds, allspice, and clove in hot skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and a shade darker, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to a blender.
• Drain soaked chiles and purée in blender with toasted spices, broiled tomatoes, onion, garlic, 3 chiles de árbol, 2 cups broth, and 1 teaspoon salt until smooth, about 2 minutes. For a spicier sauce, add remaining 2 chiles de árbol and purée again.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in cleaned pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then slowly add sauce, stirring (it will spatter), and simmer, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Add beef and 1 cup broth (reserve remainder for another use) and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until meat is heated through, about 5 minutes.