Beef Ramen with Birria

August 13, 2024
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Here’s a recipe for Birria Ramen, a delicious fusion of traditional Mexican birria and Japanese ramen:

Ingredients:

For the Birria:

  • 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks (you can also use a mix of beef shank, short ribs, or oxtail)
  • 6 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried pasilla chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 6 cups beef broth or water
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

For the Ramen:

  • 4 packages instant ramen noodles (discard the seasoning packets)
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (for garnish)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onions (for garnish)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)
  • Sliced radishes (optional, for garnish)
  • Chili oil or sriracha (optional, for extra heat)
  • Soft-boiled eggs (optional, for topping)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Birria:
  • In a large pot, toast the dried guajillo, ancho, and pasilla chiles over medium heat until they become fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn them.
  • Remove the chiles from the pot and place them in a bowl of hot water to soak for about 15 minutes until they are soft.
  1. Blend the Sauce:
  • Drain the soaked chiles and add them to a blender along with the onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, ground cloves, cinnamon stick, and 2 cups of beef broth. Blend until smooth.
  • Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any solids.
  1. Cook the Birria:
  • In the same pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper, then sear the chunks until browned on all sides.
  • Pour the blended sauce over the beef, add the bay leaves, and the remaining 4 cups of beef broth. Stir to combine.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2.5 to 3 hours, until the beef is tender and easy to shred.
  1. Shred the Beef:
  • Once the beef is tender, remove it from the pot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded beef to the pot and stir to combine with the sauce.
  1. Prepare the Ramen:
  • Cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions, but without using the seasoning packets. Drain and set aside.
  1. Assemble the Birria Ramen:
  • Divide the cooked ramen noodles into bowls. Ladle the hot birria broth and shredded beef over the noodles.
  • Garnish with chopped cilantro, onions, lime wedges, and sliced radishes if using.
  • Add a soft-boiled egg on top if desired and drizzle with chili oil or sriracha for extra heat.
  1. Serve:
  • Serve the Birria Ramen hot, allowing everyone to customize their bowls with garnishes and extra lime juice.

This Birria Ramen is a comforting, flavorful dish that combines the rich, spicy flavors of birria with the slurp-worthy texture of ramen noodles. Enjoy!