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Homemade Birria Consommé from Scratch

Homemade Birria Consommé from Scratch

There’s nothing like a steaming bowl of Homemade Birria Consommé from Scratch — a deeply savory broth made from slow-simmered meat, dried chiles, and bold spices. If you’ve ever dipped a birria taco into that rich, reddish broth and wondered how to make it at home, you’re in the right place. This recipe walks you through every step with traditional flavor and easy-to-follow instructions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast (or lamb/goat shank)
  • 6 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 1 white onion, halved
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 dried guajillo chiles (stemmed & deseeded)
  • 2 dried ancho chiles (stemmed & deseeded)
  • 1 chipotle chile (optional for heat)
  • 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • ½ cinnamon stick
  • 3 cloves
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp oregano (Mexican preferred)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste

Instructions

  1. Toast chiles on a dry skillet (30–60 seconds each side), then soak in hot water for 15 minutes until softened.
  2. Toast spices separately until fragrant.
  3. Blend chiles, spices, garlic, tomato paste, and vinegar into a thick paste.
  4. In a large pot or Dutch oven, sear the meat until browned.
  5. Add onion, bay leaf, broth, and chile paste.
  6. Simmer on low for 3–4 hours, covered.
  7. Remove meat and strain broth.
  8. Skim off excess fat and adjust seasoning.

Notes

Cool broth completely before storing. Refrigerate up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently on stovetop or microwave in intervals. Add broth if it thickens. For a spicier version, add arbol chiles or more chipotle. Try mushrooms and veggie broth for vegan option. Skim top during simmering for clarity. Let sit overnight for deeper flavor. Use leftover meat for tacos, quesabirria, or ramen.

Nutrition

Keywords: birria, consommé, mexican soup, beef broth, traditional mexican recipe