Ingredients

  • 3 medium dried ancho chiles
  • 2 large dried guajillo chilies
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil (divided)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 2 large garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed
  • 1 cup canned diced tomato (I save the remainder from the 14 oz. can to make rice)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided (if using table salt, use half as much)
  • 2 -3 lbs chuck roast, cut into 4 pieces
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 cups cola (Mexican preferred-NOT diet)
  • 12 -24 warm corn tortillas (6-in. size, use 24 if they're thin and floppy)
  • chopped avocados, red onion, and cilantro, thinly sliced pickled jalapenos, and crema Mexicana* or regular sour cream

Method

  • Make sauce for beef: Wipe chiles clean with a damp cloth, stem and seed, and tear into pieces. Heat 1 tablespoons oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chiles and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, the cumin, tomatoes, oregano, and 1 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until chiles are softened, about 10 minutes. Puree sauce in a blender until very smooth. (I forgot to blend my sauce, and my meat still came out wonderful although there were large pieces of chile in the sauce).
  • Meanwhile, season beef with the remaining teaspoons salt. Heat the remaining tablespoons oil in a 5- to 6-qt. pot over medium-high heat. Brown beef, turning occasionally, 10 to 14 minutes. Discard fat, if any.
  • Pour sauce into pot and add bay leaf, cola, and a little water if needed to barely cover meat. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until beef is very tender, 3 hours.
  • With a slotted spoon, transfer beef to a plate. Let cool slightly, then tear into shreds, discarding any fat or gristle. Meanwhile, boil sauce over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and reduced to about 3 cups, 10 to 30 minutes. Stir in beef and heat a few minutes until hot. Remove bay leaf.
  • Make tacos: With a slotted spoon, transfer beef with some sauce to a bowl. Spoon beef into tortillas (double tortillas if they're thin), tuck in accompaniments, and serve with remaining sauce if you like.
  • Make ahead: Through step 3; chill, covered, up to 2 days.