Authentic Birria Recipe (Birria De Res)

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1. 1Step 1: In a slow cooker add water, beef chunks (cut into 4-inch cubes), onion, garlic, salt, black peppercorns, bay leaves, oregano, marjoram, mint, and thyme (if using).
2. 2Step 2: Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
3. 3Step 3: Remove the beef and shred the meat and discard fat pieces. Season to taste, then return the shredded meat to the slow cooker with the broth.
4. 4Step 4: Use a fine mesh strainer to remove peppercorns, bay leaves, and vegetable solids from the broth. Discard the solids and reserve the smooth broth (consommé) for serving.
5. 5Step 5: Remove stems, seeds, and veins from the chile pods. Place in a colander and rinse well with cool water.
6. 6Step 6: Add chiles, garlic, onion, and water to a large pot. Bring water to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes. After 10 minutes turn the chiles over with tongs to make sure the chiles soften evenly. Allow time to cool down before blending. Do not discard water.
7. 7Step 7: Once cooled, place the chiles, garlic, onion, and liquid in blender with salt. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust salt after cooking, once flavors have concentrated.
8. 8Step 8: Strain red chile sauce through a fine sieve into the slow cooker and stir. This broth is the "consommé". Discard skins and seeds.
9. 9Step 9: Serve birria (shredded beef) in a bowl with broth as a stew with diced onion, radishes, and fresh cilantro and serve with corn tortillas.
10. 10Step 10: Heat a comal (cast iron griddle) over medium-low heat.
11. 11Step 11: Use the top layer of fat from the consommé (broth with red chile sauce) to dip tortillas for crispy birria tacos.
12. 12Step 12: Place on the comal and top with cheese if making quesatacos (cheese birria tacos). Add shredded beef over half the tortilla and chopped cilantro and onion. Drizzle the beef with a little more consommé.
13. 13Step 13: When the cheese is melted, fold each tortilla in half. Cook, flipping halfway through, until browned and slightly crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
14. 14Step 14: Serve tacos garnished with additional diced onion, cilantro, and lime wedges, and small bowls of warm consommé (beef broth red chile sauce mixture) for dipping.