BIRRIO – Columbian Stew

  • 2 dried chile peppers, stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 2 New Mexico dried red chile pods, stemmed and seeded
  • water to cover
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 1 slice of onion, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 ½ onions, chopped
  • 3 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into chunks
  • 6 bay leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place the dried chiles into a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until chiles are softened, 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. Pour chile sauce mixture into a blender. Add garlic, onion slices, pepper, oregano, cumin, and cinnamon. Blend until smooth.
  3. Layer chopped onions in the bottom of a slow cooker. Place chuck roast over onions and add bay leaves. Pour the chile sauce on top. Cook on High until beef is tender enough to shred with a fork, about 5 hours.
  4. Remove beef from the sauce. Continue cooking sauce until is reduced, 35 to 45 minutes. Add beef back in and season with salt.

And you cant have stew without bread!   Cheese Bread!

PANDEBONO (Columbian Cheese Bread)

  • ⅔ cup cassava starch or yuca flour
  • ¼ cup precooked cornmeal or masarepa
  • 1 cup Mexican queso freso or Colombian quesito
  • 1 ¼ cup feta cheese
  • 1 large egg

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.
  2. In a food processor, place the yuca flour, cheese and masarepa. Process until well combined. Add the egg slowly while food processor is running.
  3. Divide the mixture into 12 equal size portions, shaping them into balls.
  4. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden on top. Serve warm.