Sandwiches

The Cheesy Birria Taco Burger

A homemade birria taco inside the juiciest smash burger. Arguably the two best foods in one place.

Prep
30 minutes
Cook
4 hours, 20 minutes
Total
4 hours, 50 minutes
Serves
4
people
 The Cheesy Birria Taco Burger
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Ingredients

Short Rib Birria:

  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil 
  • 5 lbs (2268g) boneless beef short rib
  • 2 Tbsp (30g) tomato paste 
  • 2 heads of garlic, cut in half
  • 1 yellow onion, cut into quarters, leaving skin and root attached
  • 2.5 quarts (2.36L) rich beef stock
  • 1 Tbsp (5g) coriander seeds
  • 1 Tbsp (9g) black peppercorns
  • 5 bay leaves
  • 5 guajillo, seeded
  • 5 ancho, seeded
  • 2 chili de arbol, seeded
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Quesadilla Tostada:

  • 8 corn tortillas, fried (fry these ahead as tostadas)
  • Vegetable oil for frying (heat to 350℉)
  • 2 cups (160g) shredded Oaxaca cheese
  • White onion, brunoise 
  • Cilantro, finely chopped 
  • 1 lime for zesting

Cilantro Mayo:

  • 1 cup (26g) cilantro with stems
  • 8 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup (60g) lime juice
  • Water to loosen
  • ¼ cup (52g) vegetable oil
  • 1.25 cups (275g) mayonnaise

Directions

Short Rib Birria:

  1. In a heavy bottom pot, add enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom and heat to medium-high; once the oil is hot, in batches, add in your beef, season it with salt and pepper until it starts to brown on all sides, around 2 - 3 min per side and then remove from the pot.
  2. Lower the heat to medium. Using the same pot and fat released by the short rib, add tomato paste, stir, and cook it for 30 seconds or until it begins caramelizing. (If the beef did not release enough fat to cover the bottom of the pot, you could add vegetable oil.)
  3. Add unpeeled garlic, onion, and beef stock, and increase the heat to medium; bring it to a light boil, and reduce to low for a simmer. 
  4. Add all your beef back into the pot with coriander seeds, black peppercorns, bay leaves, guajillo chiles, ancho chiles and chiles de árbol. Cover with a lid for 3 - 3.5 hrs.
  5. Turn off the heat, transfer the softened chilis to a blender with 3 cups of your broth, blend on high until smooth as possible, and place back in the pot for 10 more minutes.
  6. Remove and shred all the meat, and season your broth and meat to taste with salt. Keep warm.

Quesadilla Tostada:

  1. Fill a heavy bottom pot halfway, at least 2” deep, with vegetable oil and heat to 350℉. Fry 1 to 3 whole tortillas simultaneously for 2 - 3 minutes or until almost all the bubbles disappear and the tortillas are crispy. Drain on a sheet tray with a wire rack and season while hot with salt to taste.
  2. To one tostada, add Oaxaca cheese, and melt with a kitchen torch or under a broiler. Next, add diced onions to your desire, cilantro, and top with another tostada.

Cilantro Mayo:

  1. In a blender, add cilantro, garlic, and lime juice; blend on high until smooth (Add a splash of water to lose it up if necessary). Once smooth, add vegetable oil, blend for 5 seconds, and pour it into a medium-sized bowl; mix mayo and season to taste salt.

Assembly:

  1. Form 6 to 8 oz balls with ground beef, set a 10 - 12” skillet over medium-high, and grease it with spray oil; once hot, place your ball in the pan and press it down with a spatula or burger press until a ¼” thick or larger than your buns. Season to taste with salt and pepper; sear for 1 -2 minutes or until caramelized. Flip, season with salt and pepper, then add 1 or 2 slices of provolone cheese, a layer of your birria beef, and a drizzle of your consome.
  2. To your toasted bun, spread cilantro mayo on the bottom and top part of your bun, then add your “pattie birria,” then your tostada, and your top burger bun. Serve with a side a consomme’ and a lime wedge.