Recipe: Big Dave's Beef Machaca (for tacos) for Patti, Oklahoma

Hi Patti:-) I found this recipe for you. It sounds so good that I think I will have to try it, too:-)!! This can also be used as a filling for enchiladas. I also found a recipe for Chef Bulla's enchiladas with a chipotle sauce that sounds good as well. Let me know if you would like me to post that recipe as well.

Hi Patti:-) I found this recipe for you. It sounds so good that I think I will have to try it, too:-)!! This can also be used as a filling for enchiladas. I also found a recipe for Chef Bulla's enchiladas with a chipotle sauce that sounds good as well. Let me know if you would like me to post that recipe as well.

BIG DAVE'S BEEF MACHACA
by David Bulla (Bulla is a chef in Austin, Texas).
Source: Texas Cooking

This is a basic machaca recipe. You can add to it or take away from it. Spice it up a little by adding chili powder or chili paste. Finish with some diced potatoes for "Machaca con papas." You could also make a version of this recipe with leftover roasts or fajitas. Skip the marinade step and the searing step. Simply simmer the meat with the other ingredients until it is falling apart then shred it.

MARINADE:
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
Juice of two limes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
MACHACA:
2 to 3 lb Chuck Roast or Skirt Steak, trimmed and cut into lb portions.
1 Large Texas Sweet Onion (yellow onion) diced
1/2 green bell pepper diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
1 Fresh Jalapeno Pepper, minced
1 14oz can diced tomatoes or tomatoes with green chilies
1/4 cup beef broth
1 Tb dried oregano
1 Tb ground cumin
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce such as Tabasco
salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil for searing the beef

FOR THE MARINADE:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl then whisk them to form an emulsion. Add the beef making sure every piece is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate.

Marinate the beef overnight in a bowl in the refrigerator.

TO PREPARE THE MACHACA:
Before preparing, drain thoroughly and allow meat to come up to room temperature for about 30 minutes.

In a large soup pot, heat a few tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat until very hot. Sear the beef a few pieces at a time to develop a rich brown color on all sides as well as on the bottom of the pan. Do this in several batches if the pot is too crowded. When all the beef is browned nicely and removed from the pan.

Add the onions, peppers, and garlic to the hot pan. Saute for a few minutes.

Add the remaining ingredients to the pan along with the beef. Bring to a boil, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer slowly for about 2 hours. The meat should be very tender and should easily fall apart when pricked with a fork.

Remove from heat, remove meat to a cutting board and shred with a pair of forks. Return to the pot and bring to a simmer, uncovered. Reduce the liquid until very thick, almost dry. At this point, adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and whatever additional heat you want to add if any.

TO SERVE:
Serve with tortillas, cheese, salsa, lettuce and guacamole for a great beef taco. Portion and freeze the remaining machaca in zip lock bags for later use.