The Mexican dish barbacoa is a traditional Mexican food from the state of Michoacan, which has been a cuisine tradition for centuries. It is typically made with either beef or goat meat and cooked in various ways, but the most popular is to use a slow cooker.
The Mexican dish birria is also a traditional Mexican food that comes from the state of Jalisco. It is made with either beef or goat and cooked in various ways. The name birria comes from the word “birri,” meaning “to roast” in Spanish.
The Mexican dish carnitas is a Mexican food that also comes from the state of Michoacán. It is made with pork and cooked in various ways. The word “carnitas” means “little 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.
Different Ways to Eat Barbacoa
There are many different ways to enjoy barbacoa. The most popular way to eat this meat is to eat it in tacos, a Mexican dish made with a soft tortilla filled with meat, cheese, and vegetables. Other Mexican dishes that include barbacoa are burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, and enchiladas.
Barbacoa is a very hearty and filling meal and can also be eaten as a main dish. It is often served with rice, beans, and tortillas, and is perfect for a cold winter day, a busy weeknight or anytime in between.
At Uncle Julio’s, we serve our barbacoa beef two ways, either in our legendary fajitas or our craveable quesadillas. Our barbacoa is slow-cooked for hours to ensure that it is juicy and full of flavor. Stop by our restaurant today and try our delicious barbacoa fajitas or quesadillas!
How Barbacoa is Made and Its History
Barbacoa is a traditional Mexican dish made of slow-cooked goat or beef. The meat is traditionally cooked in a hole in the ground covered with maguey leaves. Barbacoa can also be made with lamb, pork, or chicken.
The history of barbacoa dates back to the pre-Columbian era when the indigenous people of Mexico used it as a form of food preservation. In those days, the meat was cooked over an open fire and then wrapped in maguey leaves and buried underground to keep it warm.
Today, barbacoa is still made in the same traditional way in some parts of Mexico. However, it is also common to see it made in either a pressure cooker or slow cooker.
Visit Uncle Julio’s to Try Our Barbacoa Fajitas or Quesadillas
If you’re craving Mexican food, then Uncle Julio’s is the place for you. We serve traditional Mexican dishes like barbacoa fajitas and quesadillas that are slow-cooked to perfection and served with delicious toppings on fresh tortillas. Stop by today and try some of our Mexican cuisine!
Commonly Asked Questions About Barbacoa
Is barbacoa beef or lamb?
Barbacoa is a Mexican dish that is made from beef or lamb. The meat is cooked slowly in an underground oven, and then shredded and served in dishes like tacos or burritos. Some people also use barbacoa to make soup or chili.
Can I use barbacoa for birria?
Birria is a Mexican dish that is made from goat or beef. Goat is the traditional meat used for birria, but beef can also be used. Barbacoa is a type of meat that can be used for birria.
FAQs
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 is the difference between Del Real birria and barbacoa? ›
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.
Is birria meat barbacoa? ›
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 the difference between barbacoa and carnitas at Chipotle? ›
Their key flavor differences come from the type of meat they're made with, and the spices and seasonings Chipotle uses to jazz them up. Both types offer slowly braised and shredded meat, but carnitas are made from pork and a bit sweeter while barbacoa is made from beef and is spicier.
What cut of meat is birria? ›
Beef! Beef birria recipes really vary a lot in terms of what cut of beef they call for. We favor chuck roast, which is ideal for a low-and-slow braise like this. Plus, it's not usually too expensive.
What is the difference between birria and barbacoa and carnitas? ›
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 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.
Why is birria so popular? ›
Over time, the dish evolved to include spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cumin, giving it the distinct flavor it's known for today. In the early 20th century, birria became popular in Guadalajara, where it was served in local restaurants and at special events like weddings and religious festivals.
What is birria tacos vs normal? ›
What makes beef birria tacos unique is the way the tender, juicy beef is used to create delicious tacos. The beef is often shredded or chopped and then folded into a soft corn tortilla, along with a generous amount of melted cheese.
What is carnitas in English? ›
Meredith. Carnitas — which means "little meats" in Spanish — is a Mexican pork dish. An inexpensive, heavily marbled cut of pork, such as boneless Boston butt, pork shoulder or picnic ham, is braised or simmered for several hours with seasonings and lard until it is so tender that is can be shredded.
Carnitas is made with pork that has been braised or slow-cooked until it's fork-tender. Carne asada is made with beef that has been grilled to perfection.
What is barbacoa vs pastor vs carnitas? ›
Some restaurants serve al pastor with pineapple for a sweet and savory taco. Barbacoa is typically made with beef and seasoned with dried chilies, spices and fresh lime juice. It's slowly cooked until flawlessly tender. Carnitas means “l*ttle pieces of meat,” and it's usually pulled pork shoulder cooked in lard.
Why is it called barbacoa? ›
Etymology. The Taíno term barbacoa means “framework of sticks” and it was applied to a wide range of wooden structures, including a raised wooden grill for roasting and smoking foods In Mexico, the term barbacoa was applied to the pit or earth oven used by the local indigenous people for cooking food.
Why is it called birria? ›
The Spanish were said to not be too fond of goat meat because of its strong, gamey flavor (similar to but less intense than lamb) and tough texture that required a long, slow cooking time. The term birria comes from an old Spanish word that was used to describe something with no value or of poor quality.
Why is my birria meat tough? ›
Keep it low and slow. Raising the heat will only result in dry, tough birria. I know it's hard, but be patient and let it cook low and slow.
Why is birria bitter? ›
How do you get the bitterness out of birria tacos? Using too many chillies can make your birria bitter so be sure to stick to the recipe and experiment carefully.
What are the other names for barbacoa? ›
Barbacoa was later adopted into the cuisine of the southwestern United States by way of Texas. The word transformed in time to "barbecue". In the Philippines, the Visayan dish balbacua (also spelled balbakwa) is named after barbacoa, probably for the similar length of cooking time and tenderness of the meat.
What is barbacoa a la mexicana? ›
Robert Patrick Briggs/Getty Images. Traditionally, barbacoa is a preparation of meat (usually sheep, goat, or beef) that is steam cooked in an underground oven until very tender and succulent. Today the term is also sometimes used for a similar preparation made on a stovetop or in a slow cooker.
What kind of meat is barbacoa at Chipotle? ›
Barbacoa at Chipotle is made from tender and moist seared beef that's been braised in an incredible blend of adobo, lime, cumin, garlic, and oregano.
What does 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.
