Home » Beef Enchiladas — Low and Slow Version
Culaccino Beef Enchiladas

Beef Enchiladas — Low and Slow Version

This recipe uses a whole piece of beef shoulder cooked for 8-10 hours.  Despite the long cooking time, this is also a great weeknight meal that can be cooked while you’re hard at work.  For a shortcut version using ground beef, try my Beef Enchiladas–Quick Version

Makes 6 enchiladas for 2-3 people and can be easily doubled or tripled.

INGREDIENTS

  • beef shoulder:  600 g/21 oz
  • onion: 1 medium, chopped
  • garlic: 2 clove, peeled, crushed whole with hard root end removed
  • salt: 1 tsp
  • pepper: 1 tsp
  • cumin: 1 Tb
  • chipotle chili: 1, chopped
  • coriander, ground: 2 tsp
  • espazote (or dried oregano): 1 tsp
  • bay leaf: 1
  • vinegar: 3 Tb (apple-cider, or red wine)
  • stock (beef or chicken): 250 mL/1 cup
  • lime: 1, juiced
  • enchilada sauce: Classic Red Enchilada Sauce,  or my Quick Red Enchilada Sauce or purchased
  • flour tortillas: 6
  • cheddar cheese: 150g/5.5 oz
  • fresh cilantro/coriander: small handful, chopped

STEPS

  1. Turn on slow cooker to low setting.
  2. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, chipotle, ground coriander, espazote, and vinegar to the pot.
  3. Trim any silver skin from the beef and cut into 2-3 large pieces if whole.  Add to the pot and mix in with the other ingredients.  Add the stock.
  4. Leave to cook for 8-10 hours.
  5. Remove pot ingredients and strain away liquid, but reserve separately.  Discard the bay leaf.  Shred the beef mixture with 2 forks and return to the pot.  Add the lime juice.  Add enough liquid just to keep beef moist. Keep cooker on “keep warm” setting until ready to fill the enchiladas.
  6.  Preheat oven to 180 C/150 F.  Line a 9×13″ baking dish (or similar) with 1/3 of the enchilada sauce.
  7. Divide the beef mixture evenly onto the 6 flour tortillas.  Wrap each by folding in each end, then folding over lengthwise.  Place each tortilla, seam side down into the baking dish.
  8. Spread the remaining enchilada sauce over the tops of the tortillas, then spread the cheese and coriander/cilantro over.
  9. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.  Serve