Recipe for cooking shredded beef (carne de res deshebrada)

Quick Meals- Salads and Sandwiches :: Beef Sandwiches

Shredded Beef (Carne de Res Deshebrada)

This is the traditional Mexican filling for tacos. It is preferred over the ground meat filling found in many restaurants. It is wonderful for making burritos, chimichangas, taquitos, and in carne seca.

1/4 C. canola oil
2 1/2 to 3 lb. beef brisket (sm.er
    thinner end, trimmed of all fat)
1 ancho or New Mexico dried chile,
    stemmed and seeded
3 to 4 slices onion
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. Mexican oregano

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Heat a Dutch oven over med.-high heat. Add oil and brown the beef on all sides. Pour off as much oil as possible. Just barely cover the meat with water. Bring to a boil. Skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Add remaining ingredients. Cover the pot and place it in the oven until the meat is tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hr..

Remove the meat, reservings broth for other uses. When the meat is cool enough to handle, shred it. Hold a fork in each hand, and shred the beef with the forks.