Mexican Style Braised Beef Cheeks

 

Mexican Style Braised Beef Cheeks

'Beef cheeks are an ideal choice for slow-braising due to their rich, gelatinous texture. Order them in advance from your butcher, or substitute beef brisket or trimmed chuck steak'. 

Ingredients

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 150°C. Place the chipotle in a bowl, cover with 1/2 cup (125ml) boiling water and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 tbs soaking liquid.
  2. Place the onion, garlic, spices, oregano and the soaked chipotle in a food processor and whiz to a coarse paste, adding the reserved soaking liquid if the mixture is too dry.
  3. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof casserole over medium-low heat. Add the chipotle paste and cook, stirring, for 6-8 minutes until fragrant. Increase heat to medium-high, add the beef and cook, turning, for a further 3-4 minutes until browned all over.
  4. Add the sugar, tomato and stock, season, then cover with a lid and transfer to the oven for 2-21/2 hours until the beef is tender.
  5. Stir through the beans, then return to the oven, uncovered, for a further 30 minutes or until the sauce is reduced and thickened. 
  6. Serve the beef cheeks with tortillas, guacamole, red onion, sour cream, coriander leaves, chilli, if using, and lime wedges. Serves 4-6.
    From the book Love to Cook by Valli Little. Reproduced with the permission of delicious magazine and ABC Books.

    Ingredients for Mexican Style Braised Beef Cheeks

    Onion Brown Each

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    Garlic Head Each

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    Cape Grim Beef Ox Cheek 600-900g

    $22.49 ea
    $24.99
     

    Curious Cuts Cape Grim Beef Brisket 500g-1kg

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    Villa Rossi Diced Tomatoes 400g

    $1.59 ea
     

    Campbells Real Stock Beef 1L

    $2.99 ea
     

    Villa Rossi Red Kidney Beans 400g

    $1.69 ea
     

    Onion Red Spanish Each

    $1.75 ea
    $6.99
     

    Dairy Farmers Lite Sour Cream 250g

    $3.00 ea
     

    Fresh Herbs Coriander Bunch

    $0.99 ea
     

    Chilli Long Hot Red min 200g

    $4.00 ea
    $20.00
     

    Lime Each

    $0.90 ea
    $8.99
     

    Spice and Co Chillies Whole 20g

    $3.69 ea
     

    Spice and Co Cinnamon Cassia Ground 65g

    $3.69 ea
     

    Spice and Co Coriander Ground 60g

    $3.69 ea
     

    Spice and Co Cumin Ground 50g

    $3.69 ea
     

    Spice and Co Paprika Sweet 60g

    $3.69 ea
     

    Spice and Co Paprika Smoked 60g

    $3.69 ea
     

    Spice and Co Oregano Leaves 20g

    $3.69 ea
     

    Altos Margarita Limes

    $0.87 ea
    $6.99