Easy & Healthy Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cut of beef is used for barbacoa? ›

In the US, people typically make barbacoa with chuck roast, brisket and beef cheeks. However, any cut of beef that has a lot of connective tissue and takes a long time to cook until tender works well.

Ingredients Needed

Chuck Roast – you'll need 3 pounds of chuck roast to serve 6-8 people. Spices – a combination of salt, pepper, cumin, chipotle chili powder, Mexican oregano, cloves, garlic, and bay leaves lend so much flavor to the beef!

The word "barbacoa" refers to both the preparation of the meat and the meat itself. Barbacoa is usually cooked in a flavorful marinade and, when the meat is very tender, it is shredded before it's served.

It is made with pork and cooked in various ways. The word “carnitas” means “l*ttle meats” in Spanish. These three dishes are very similar, but have some differences. Barbacoa can be either shredded or chopped, birria is usually shredded and served with a sauce or broth, and carnitas is usually chopped.

Benefits of Barbacoa

One interesting fact, too, is that barbacoa—because it's made from the head—contains high levels of collagen. It is also extremely high in protein. It is a little high in fat, so it's not a meal for every day but is a good source of meat protein.

Barbacoa can be served in a variety of ways, and salsas are the customary accompaniment. The most popular way to enjoy barbacoa is to serve it with tortillas for barbacoa tacos. Zaragoza recommends making tacos dorados (fried tacos) and topping your barbacoa with Mexican crema, shredded cabbage, and salsa.

Two main things. Barbacoa is not spicy, it's just steamed and slow cooked, sometimes in a hole, with banana leaves. It is actually not exclusively Mexican, it originated in Puerto Rico even though it's associated with Mexico today because we do make it and eat it often (Mexico is a very big country).

Adults. In general, each pound of BBQ feeds 3 to 4 people, especially if you're serving sides. You can expect most adult guests to eat ¼ to ⅓ pounds of meat each during your event.

Meats such as chicken, pork, lamb and beef are all rich in protein. Red meat provides us with iron, zinc and B vitamins. Meat is one of the main sources of vitamin B12 in the diet. Food hygiene is important when storing, preparing and cooking meat.

How many pounds of beef do I need for 6 people? ›

Barbacoa (Spanish: [baɾβaˈkoa]) is a form of cooking meat that originated in the Caribbean with the Taíno people, who called it by the Arawak word barbaca, from which the term "barbacoa" derives, and ultimately, the word 'barbecue".

The difference in the two dishes comes down to the meat. Birria is made with beef or goat meat, while barbacoa is made with beef, pork, lamb or goat. Both dishes are delicious, and you can't go wrong with either one. So, if you're looking for a tasty Mexican dish, be sure to try barbacoa at Hacienda Colorado.

In short, birria is a type of barbacoa, but barbacoa is not birria. Barbacoa is more closely related to barbecue, while birria is braised or steamed. Barbacoa is traditionally slowly steamed in its own juices with a marinade, and most barbacoa is made from beef (although lamb or mutton are also common).

Round and round we go When it comes to beef, it's not just the quality that matters - it's the cut, too. Our Barbacoa mainly comes from the shoulder, because those cuts have enough fat to keep the meat moist during our long braising method, making the end result seriously juicy and tender.

In the U.S., barbacoa is often prepared with parts from the heads of cattle, such as the cheeks. In northern Mexico, it is also sometimes made from beef head, but more often it is prepared from goat meat (cabrito).

Steak: According to Chipotle's customer service, the “beef” in their steak could be any number of cuts including part of the loin, ball tip, round steak, flat iron steak, top butt, clod, or knuckle.

Carnitas is a traditional Mexican dish made with pork.

This is in contrast to barbacoa, which is made with beef. Carnitas means "little meats" in Spanish. It's a slow-cooked pork dish that is simmered until it becomes tender and juicy. It's kind of like a Mexican version of pulled pork.