Authentic Mexican Soups and Stews Birria de Res (Mexican Beef Stew)

Birria de Res holds a special place in my heart, not only because it helped launch my TikTok journey, but because it’s a family tradition. This recipe is my mom’s, and she would make it for big celebrations like quinceañeras, weddings, and baptisms. A quinceañera, celebrating a girl’s transition into womanhood at 15, is a grand occasion where padrinos (godparents) contribute food and music, and birria is a staple dish served in large pots to feed many. My mom became renowned for her birria, even after we moved to the United States. People would pay her to make it, or she would contribute it as a gift to events. With five sisters, we all ask her to make birria, but as she’s now 80, I realized it was time for us to learn the recipe. During the COVID lockdown, I finally took the leap, and I mastered it. Though the long list of spices may seem intimidating, with practice, you’ll get it just right. Many people ask if birria is spicy, but it’s not; the flavor is more about the ancho chile, which has a dried prune-like aroma with a slight sweetness. Each chile brings a distinct taste, embodying the rich complexity of Mexico in one dish. While I try to follow my mom’s recipe as closely as possible, sometimes you have to make substitutions if you can’t find certain ingredients. For example, if you’re out of guajillo chiles, California or New Mexico chiles can work in a pinch. Even on Guy Fieri’s show, I had to improvise due to budget restrictions, and despite missing some spices, I still managed to deliver a winning dish!