Birria Ramen Recipe
Birria Ramen is a flavorful fusion dish combining tender, smoky braised beef chuck roast with rich Mexican-style consommé served over Instant Ramen noodles. This recipe uses a traditional birria braising method enhanced with smoked meat and a spicy chili pepper broth, topped with fresh cilantro, diced onions, Oaxaca cheese, and lime wedges for a hearty, comforting meal with a twist.
- Author: Tara
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Smoking and Braising
- Cuisine: Mexican Fusion
Meat and Seasoning
- 3–4 pound beef chuck roast, cubed into 2-inch pieces
- 3 tbsp SPG blend (Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic)
- Yellow mustard (used as binder for seasoning, approximate 2 tbsp)
Braising Ingredients
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large white onion, quartered
- 3 Roma tomatoes, cut in half
- 5 garlic cloves
- 3 ancho chiles, dried
- 3 guajillo chiles, dried
- 4 chipotle peppers in adobo
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 cup beef broth or vegetable broth
Assembly and Garnish
- 4 packs of Instant Ramen noodles
- 1/2 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese
- Medium white onion, diced
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
- 4 lime wedges
- Prepare and Season the Meat: Cube the beef chuck roast into 2-inch pieces. Spread a thin layer of yellow mustard over the meat cubes to help the seasoning stick. Then generously season all sides with the SPG blend (salt, black pepper, and garlic).
- Smoke the Meat: Smoke the seasoned beef cubes at 250°F using cherry wood for 3 to 4 hours until they develop a smoky flavor and begin to brown on the outside.
- Make the Braising Liquid: Bring to a boil a pot with the quartered large white onion, halved Roma tomatoes, whole garlic cloves, ancho chiles, and guajillo chiles. Boil for about 5 minutes to soften and infuse flavors.
- Blend the Sauce: Remove the boiled ingredients from the heat and transfer them into a blender along with 2 cups of the boiling water and the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Blend until smooth to create a flavorful chili braising liquid.
- Braise the Smoked Meat: Transfer the smoked meat into a Dutch oven or heavy pot, pour the blended braising liquid over the meat along with 1 cup of beef or vegetable broth, add the cinnamon sticks and bay leaves. Cover and braise on low heat for 2 to 3 hours until the meat is tender and falls apart easily.
- Cook the Ramen Noodles: Prepare the Instant Ramen noodles according to package instructions without the seasoning packets, then drain and set aside.
- Assemble the Birria Ramen: In serving bowls, place cooked ramen noodles, then ladle the tender braised meat and broth over the noodles. Top with shredded Oaxaca cheese, diced white onion, fresh chopped cilantro, and a lime wedge on the side. Squeeze lime juice before eating for added brightness.
Notes
- You can substitute beef broth with vegetable broth to make the broth lighter but still flavorful.
- Adjust the number of chipotle peppers in adobo to control the heat level.
- Smoking the meat adds depth of flavor but you can also skip this step and proceed to braising if time or equipment is limited.
- Use fresh Oaxaca cheese for authentic texture, but mozzarella can be used as a substitute if unavailable.
- Serve immediately for best texture of noodles and cheese melting.
Keywords: Birria Ramen, Beef Ramen, Mexican Ramen, Braised Beef, Smoked Meat, Oaxaca Cheese, Chili Broth, Fusion Recipe