Tacos de Adobada: the Authentic Mexican Recipe

Carne Adobada for Tacos de adobada recipe. Get ready to get some of the most fantastic taco meals you have ever had. I am from the north of Mexico, and this dish is very popular for weddings or family parties. It is usually served with rice, beans, and tortillas. We call it “guisado,” which could be translated as a type of casserole. As true Mexicans, as long as we have tortillas, we can turn any guisado into a taco!

I will use beef for this recipe, but the same process and marinade can be applied to pork or chicken. So, let’s get started!

Ingredients:

7 guajillo chilies
2 ancho chilies
1 morita chili (optional)
3 tomatoes
1/2 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 orange juice
1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp thyme
3 cloves
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
3.5 pounds of beef or 1.5 kg of beef (can be sirloin tip steak, beef shank for a lower-fat version, or chuck pot for a more economical version)
1 tsp of your preferred oil
Tortillas

Procedure:

Soak the chilies in hot water until they are soft.

Roast the tomatoes and onion on a griddle until they are lightly browned.

Cut the meat into small cubes and brown it with a little oil in a pot.

In a blender, mix the tomatoes, onion, chilies (without stems), garlic, orange juice, vinegar, oregano, cumin, thyme, salt, and water. Blend until smooth.

Strain the sauce and add it to the meat along with the cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cloves.

Cook over low heat for about 45 minutes, until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened.
And there you have it! These marinated beef tacos are perfect to accompany with rice, beans, and a nopales salad.

Here are a few dishes you can serve as accompaniments to this recipe:

Arroz con vegetales
Mexican Arroz Rojo
Nopales Salad
Refried Beans

Some tips that might be helpful

Can I substitute any ingredient if I don’t have it on hand? Yes, you can adapt the recipe according to what you have available. For example, if you don’t have morita chilies, you can omit them or substitute them with another type of chili you have on hand. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar. The recipe is quite flexible in that regard.
How long should I soak the chilies? Soak the chilies in hot water for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are soft. This will help them rehydrate and give the sauce a smoother texture.
Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker? Absolutely! You can transfer all the ingredients to a slow cooker once you’ve browned the meat and mixed the sauce. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the meat is tender and the sauce is well cooked.
How can I adjust the spiciness level in the recipe? If you prefer a spicier dish, you can add more árbol chilies or even leave some seeds in the chilies when preparing the sauce. On the other hand, if you prefer a milder flavor, you can omit the morita chili, which is the spiciest.
Can I prepare the marinated beef in advance? Yes! In fact, the flavor usually improves if you let the marinated meat rest for a few hours or even overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the flavors to blend and intensify even more.

Did you know that this recipe varies depending on the region of Mexico where it is prepared?

The difference in marinated beef mainly lies in the ingredients and preparation techniques that vary depending on the region of Mexico. Here are some examples of how marinated beef can differ in various places:

Northern Mexican Marinated Beef (Chihuahua, Sonora, Nuevo León): In these regions, marinated beef is usually prepared with dried chilies such as guajillo, ancho, and pasilla, as well as spices like cumin and oregano. It is often used to make marinated beef tacos, which are very popular in the northern part of the country.
Central Mexican Marinated Beef (Mexico City, Puebla): Here, the recipe may include a greater variety of chilies, such as chipotle, and sometimes a touch of sweetness with piloncillo or brown sugar. The marinated beef in these regions can be spicier and have a more complex flavor due to the combination of different dried chilies.
Southern Mexican Marinated Beef (Yucatán, Oaxaca): In southern Mexico, marinated beef may have influences from Maya or Zapotec cuisine. Ingredients such as achiote, banana leaves, or epazote can be used to give it a characteristic flavor of the region. In Yucatán, for example, the famous “cochinita pibil” is prepared, which is marinated pork cooked in banana leaves.
Coastal Marinated Beef (Veracruz, Guerrero): In coastal regions, marinated beef can have influences from Creole and African cuisine. Ingredients such as olives, capers, or even pineapple can be added to give it a unique sweet and sour flavor.

Adobada Tacos Recipe: the Authentic Mexican Adobo sauce

Enjoy a delicious and traditional adobada tacos recipe. This fantastic casserole also works great as a burrito filling.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings

Calories 1155 kcal

Equipment

1 Blender
1 Pot
1 Griddle

Ingredients

7 guajillo chiles
2 ancho chiles
1 morita chili optional
3 tomatoes
1/2 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 cup of orange juice
1/4 cup of apple cinder vinegar or white vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumi
1/2 tsp thyme
3 cloves
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
3.5 pounds of beef (can be sirloin tip steak, beef shank for a lower-fat version, or chuck pot for a more economical version)
1 tsp of your preferred oil
Tortillas

Instructions

Soak the chilies in hot water until they are soft.
Roast the tomatoes and onion on a griddle until they are lightly browned.
Cut the meat into small cubes and brown it with a little oil in a pot.
In a blender, mix the tomatoes, onion, chilies (without stems), garlic, orange juice, vinegar, oregano, cumin, thyme, salt, and water. Blend until smooth.
Strain the sauce and add it to the meat along with the cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cloves.
Cook over low heat for about 45 minutes, until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened.
And there you have it! These marinated beef tacos are perfect to accompany with rice, beans, and a nopales salad.

Video

Notes

I have some other Taco Recipes you will love

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Adobada Tacos Recipe: the Authentic Mexican Adobo sauce

Amount per Serving

Calories

1155

% Daily Value*

Fat

126

Saturated Fat

194

Trans Fat

Polyunsaturated Fat

Monounsaturated Fat

Cholesterol

282

Sodium

295

Potassium

1899

Carbohydrates

Fiber

Sugar

Protein

144

Vitamin A

7178

144

Vitamin C

Calcium

128

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

What is Carne Adobada

Marinated beef, or “carne adobada,” is a typical dish in Mexican cuisine consisting of marinated and cooked meat in a sauce made of spices and chilies. The recipe varies by region and personal preference, but it usually includes ingredients such as dried chilies, tomatoes, garlic, onions, vinegar, and spices like cumin, oregano, cloves, and cinnamon. The meat is marinated in this sauce to absorb all the flavors before being cooked.