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Braised Mole Beef Tacos with Cilantro & Queso Fresco

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Author Eva Kosmas Flores

Ingredients

Spice Blend

  • 1 tablespoons McCormick Ancho Chile Pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Chipotle Chile Pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Mexican Oregano Leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Mole Beef Tacos

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 lbs boneless beef chuck trimmed and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 1/3 cup tomato paste
  • 1 ounce semi-sweet baker's chocolate broken into two pieces
  • 12 6-inch corn tortillas

Toppings

  • 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Mix together all the spice blend ingredients in a small bowl and then set it aside. To prepare the mole, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large sauce pot and lightly brown half the beef on all sides. Remove the beef from the pan and set it aside. Repeat with the remaining half of the beef.
  2. Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan and then add the onion. Cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the water and stir, then add the beef, beef stock, tomato paste, and the spice blend and stir until combined. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chocolate and stir until it is completely melted, then allow the mixture to simmer, this time uncovered, for about an hour or until the beef becomes tender and the sauce has thickened.
  3. Towards the end of cooking, lightly brush each tortilla with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Cook each tortilla on a skillet over medium heat for about 1 minute on each side, or until the tortilla is hot but pliable. Set each tortilla on a plate lined with paper towels as it's done cooking. Spread about 1/4 cup of mole in the center of each tortilla and top with a light sprinkle of the queso fresco and cilantro. Fold and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Adapted from McCormick.com