Recipe: Mexican Goat Stew With Chipotles
GOAT MEAT
Goat Meat may not be very common in American cuisine, however go to South America, Africa, India and the Caribbean, goat meat is a treasured meat. In some of the countries of these regions, it is considered a delicacy.
Curry Goat is a common food item in Caribbean households. Living in a neighborhood with a Caribbean population, goat meat is standard fare at my local supermarket. I usually make the standard curry but after bringing some home recently, I decided I wanted to do something different with the goat.
I then remembered the best tacos I have ever had were these fabulous goat tacos at Rosa Mexicano, one of the best Mexican restaurants in NYC, known for its authentic Mexican cuisine. At Rosa Mexicano, they have a guacamole cart that they bring to your table and make your guac to order. It’s some of the freshest Mexican food you will ever find in New York. Inspired by the goat tacos I had there, I created this Mexican inspired goat stew.
Birria is the most popular Goat Stew in Mexico from the Jalisco region. However, to make this a protein packed filling meal, I added some beans. Therefore, this recipe is a protein packed version of Jalisco Birria Mexican Goat Stew.
If you have never had goat before, this is a delicious recipe to introduce yourself to this flavorful meat.
WHAT KIND OF CHILI TO USE?
I used chipotles, which are smoked dried ripe (red) jalapenos, but the most common chili to use in Birria would be guajillo chillies.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 pounds goat meat with bones
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 plum tomatoes chopped
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 orange
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cloves
- a pinch of black pepper
- 3 chipotles from canned chipotles in adobo sauce can
- juice of 1 lime
- 2 3/4 cups water
- 15.5 oz. can black beans drained and rinsed
- salt to taste
- 3 scallions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
-
Cut goat into bite size pieces. Add juice from the orange and garlic cloves. Stir to combine and marinate overnight.
-
Heat oil. Add goat and cook for about 5-8 minutes on high heat until slightly browned, just so that a few of the pieces have some carmelization on it. Remove from pot.
-
Add onions and tomatoes. Saute for 1-2 minutes until softened. Add chipotles and give it a stir. Add bay leaf, cloves, 2 cups of water, salt and black pepper. Add 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce from the can. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour.
-
Add 3/4 cup water and lime juice. Cook, partially covered for another 15 minutes.
-
Add beans, scallions and cilantro.
-
Stir and continue to cook for 15 minutes.
Notes
Depending on the age of the goat, cooking times may vary. Goat meat needs to be cooked long and slow until it is tender and falling off the bones. It can take up to 3 hours, adding more water as necessary the longer it cooks. This is a dish that is also great to cook in a slow cooker.
Mutton or lamb can also be substituted for the goat meat.
Nutrition