Birria (Mexican Goat And Chile Stew)
- 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
- Put meat on a baking sheet, pat dry, then rub all over with 2 tsp. salt.
- 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.
- Toast garlic cloves in same frying pan, turning until browned all over. When cool enough to handle, peel.
- 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.
- Smear paste over meat, cover, and chill at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
- Preheat oven to 325u0b0. 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.
- Transfer meat to a rimmed baking sheet and cover with foil. Measure broth, skim off fat, and add enough water to make 3 cups.
- Whirl tomatoes in a blender until smooth, then whirl in broth. Strain into a saucepan and heat over medium heat until steaming.
- Divide hunks of meat among 6 soup bowls and ladle about 1/2 cup broth over each. Season with more salt to taste.
- *Find cabrito, guajillo and ancho chiles, and piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar) at Latino markets. You can often order cabrito through butcher shops too.
- Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving (calculated with lamb; goat data unavailable).
butcher, kosher salt, guajillo chiles, ancho chiles, garlic, cider vinegar, brown sugar, cumin seeds, cloves, tomatoes
Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/birria-mexican-goat-chile-stew (may not work)