Barbacoa is a dish made of meat that has been slow-cooked over an open fire. The most common meats used for barbacoa are beef, pork, lamb or goat. Hacienda Colorado offers barbacoa street tacos made with beef that has been slow-cooked for hours until it is so tender it falls apart. Not only do we offer street tacos, we also have fajitas, burritos, and Quesa-birria.
The history of barbacoa is thought to have originated from the indigenous people of the Americas. Barbacoa was originally cooked in a hole in the ground, lined with hot stones and covered with leaves. The meat was cooked slowly over the fire, and the resulting dish was tender, flavorful and succulent.
Today, barbacoa is still popular in Mexico where it is often served as a street food. It can also be found in restaurants throughout the country.
How is Barbacoa and Birria Made?
Birria is a dish from the Mexican state of Jalisco made with beef or goat, typically rib meat. It is usually served as a stew, but can also be served as a sandwich. Birria is made with a variety of spices, including chili peppers, cumin and oregano.
Barbacoa, on the other hand, is a traditional dish from the Mexican state of Michoacan. It is made with either beef or lamb, and is usually cooked in an earthen pit. Barbacoa can be served as a stew, but is also often served as tacos.
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.
How to Best Enjoy Your Barbacoa
There are many ways to enjoy barbacoa. It can be served as a stew, tacos or a sandwich. It is also popular as a street food in Mexico. No matter how you choose to eat it, barbacoa is sure to please your taste buds.
If you’re looking for something hearty and filling, try barbacoa tacos. The meat is slow-cooked until it is tender and falls apart and is then served in a warm tortilla. You can add your favorite toppings, such as melted cheese, roasted habanero salsa, roasted jalapenos, pico de gallo, cilantro, avocado and crema.
No matter how you choose to eat it, barbacoa is sure to satisfy your craving for Mexican food. Be sure to stop by Hacienda Colorado the next time you’re in the mood for some delicious Mexican cuisine.
Visit Hacienda Colorado to Try Our Barbacoa Tacos
If you’re looking for a delicious Mexican meal, be sure to head over to Hacienda Colorado and try our barbacoa tacos. The tender, slow-cooked beef is perfect for taco lovers of all ages, and we know you won’t be disappointed. So what are you waiting for? Come on in and see us today!
Commonly Asked Questions About Barbacoa Dishes
Is barbacoa beef or pork?
Barbacoa, in its most traditional form, is lamb or goat meat that has been slow-cooked over an open fire. However, in modern Mexican cuisine, beef or pork are often used as well.
What is the origin of the word barbacoa?
The word barbacoa comes from the Taíno word barbacoa, which means “a framework of sticks set upon posts”. This was the original method of cooking meat by the Taíno people of the Caribbean. When the Spanish arrived in the region, they adopted the word and began to use it to refer to a variety of dishes that were cooked over an open fire or pit. Today, barbacoa is most commonly associated with a dish made from beef that is slowly cooked over an open fire or in a pit filled with charcoal. The meat is wrapped in banana leaves and allowed to cook slowly until it is falling-off-the-bone tender.
FAQs
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.
What is the difference between birria and barbacoa? ›
Barbacoa can be made on an open fire, on the stove, or in a slow cooker. However, the traditional method mimics an oven made from the earth, banana leaves, and agave plants, heated with hot coals. Birria, on the other hand, sits very much in the vein of a stew.
What kind of meat is barbacoa? ›
Barbacoa is typically made out of tougher cuts of meat that require long, slow cooking times. When done traditionally, barbacoa is made with large cuts of meat or whole animals. In the United States, barbacoa is usually associated with beef. However, in Mexico, barbacoa is made from beef, goat, lamb or mutton.
What's the difference between quesa birria and birria? ›
Quesabirria is "a cross between a taco and a quesadilla." It comprises a corn tortilla with either mozzarella or Chihuahua cheese melted with stewed meat. The meat is often beef – commonly brisket – in contrast to birria, which is traditionally made with goat.
What Mexican dish is similar to birria? ›
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.
What meat is birria made of? ›
Rich with chilies and cozy, warm spices like cinnamon and ginger, birria is most authentically made with goat meat, but beef birria—”birria de res”—has become popular of late. We just adore this hearty, fragrant, chile-heavy stew-like braise, and we know you will, too.
Is barbacoa always beef cheek? ›
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).
What does Mexican barbacoa taste like? ›
Beef Barbacoa is slightly tangy with a subtle but distinct spicing. It's not too chilli-hot, though to be fair, sometimes chipotles vary in heat! The unique thing about Barbacoa is the slight tartness of the sauce from vinegar and lime, which cuts through the rich meat, and the warmth from cloves.
Why is it called barbacoa? ›
When the Spanish arrived in the region, they adopted the word and began to use it to refer to a variety of dishes that were cooked over an open fire or pit. Today, barbacoa is most commonly associated with a dish made from beef that is slowly cooked over an open fire or in a pit filled with charcoal.
Is barbacoa always shredded? ›
While shredded barbacoa is a common way of serving the dish, it is not the only way.
Traditionally, birria is made with goat meat, but other animal proteins can be used, such as beef or lamb. Goat meat meat is stewed in blend of spices, including chili peppers, cumin, and cloves, and slow-cooked for several hours until it is tender and flavorful.
What is so special about birria tacos? ›
These delicious tacos are made with tender, slow-cooked meat and a flavorful blend of spices, all served up on a crispy corn tortilla.
What is the real name for birria tacos? ›
This Birria Tacos (tacos de birria aka quesatacos) recipe is juicy, cheesy, delicious—a true showstopper. It begins with braising a birria de rez and then making a consomé and frying up tacos with Oaxacan (or mozzarella) cheese. Instructions for oven, Instant Pot and slow-cooker methods are all included!
Is birria and barbacoa the same? ›
Historically, birria was the regional name given in the state of Jalisco and surrounding areas to what is known as barbacoa, meats cooked or roasted in a pit or earth oven, in other regions of Mexico. For many people today, mostly in the United States, birria is now a distinct dish.
What is barbacoa made of? ›
Barbacoa is a method of cooking meat (historically lamb or goat, though beef or pork is often used today) that produces tender and juicy results. It's traditionally steam-cooked underground, but modern barbacoa can be prepared over an open fire, on the stove, or in a slow cooker.
Which tortilla is better for birria? ›
In short, corn tortillas are the way to go for your birria tacos. If you really like flour tortillas you can use them too, but in that case you'll be eating a birria burrito and you experience will be different.
Why are birria tacos different? ›
Birria tacos are a popular Mexican dish that is made from meat (usually goat or lamb) that has been slowly cooked in its own fat. The flavor of the birria is intense and complex, and it can be enjoyed as part of a meal or as an appetizer.
Which is better, barbacoa or carnitas? ›
If you like beef, then barbacoa is the way to go. However, if you prefer pork, then carnitas is the better option. If you like things spicy, then barbacoa might be the way to go. Its blend of spices and chili peppers creates a bold and robust flavor that is sure to satisfy your taste buds.
What kind of meat is barbacoa at Chipotle? ›
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.
