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Home » Recipes » Beef » Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado

Last Updated June 4, 2019. Originally Posted November 7, 2017 By Maggie Unzueta

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks is a delicious dish that is deep in flavor. It’s a great example of Mexican comfort food sure to be loved by your entire family.
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Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Rumba Meats. As always, all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

We just got home from the redhead’s school program that took us on a walk-through the American Revolution to the United States of America. Not many Americans, however, realize that the official name for Mexico is “The United States of Mexico.” That being said, each state in Mexico has its own particular dishes and recipes. A classic dish in the Northern part of Mexico is Chile Colorado. It never crossed my mind to make it with beef shank until I saw it in Baja California. I rushed home to make Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado. Here’s the recipe..

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

When we have too much stress and discomfort, my family turns to “dis” comfort food that has nourished us for generations. I know this traditional sauce from my family’s native Durango – just with a different cut of meat. I have so many pleasant memories of this dish from my childhood – memories of my mother and of my grandmother. I get emotional just thinking about those many meals that featured Chile Colorado. The crazy thing is that it’s so incredibly familiar to me that I could make it blindfolded. (The Hubs threatened to video me making it with my eyes covered but I said “No way, Jose!”).

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

The answer to the age old question, “Where’s the beef?” is found in the shank portion of the cow. For this dish, we’re using Rumba Meats which we got at ALDI. It is high quality beef that this classic, Mexican comfort food deserves. You can find Rumba Meats at a store near you. While it may be an inexpensive cut of meat, beef shank is rich with the fatty goodness of the healthy bone marrow. Yeah. I’m a huge fan of marrow. I love it so much that I’d “marrow it” if I could. 🙂

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Chop up that the meat into small pieces and then throw it into the pot. Include the bone.
Now, lets talk sauce..

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

These are ancho chile and guajillo chile.

You might think these are a lot of chiles and that Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado, is a spicy dish. WRONG! It’s not spicy at all, but it is robust and very strong in flavor.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

You all know that I’m a saucy girl, and this dish is a saucy dream come true. This is a red sauce but one with no tomatoes to be found (Think: Tomato-free Zone). I use a lot of guajillo chiles. The secret, however, is adding two ancho chiles to the sauce. They take the sauce to a new level.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Take the stems off the dried chiles, cut them lengthwise, remove the seeds, and the veins. Then add them to the stockpot with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Let them sit in the hot pot for 10 minutes. Then discard the water and place the reconstituted chiles in a blender.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Blast the blender until smooth.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

It’s a thick sauce. That’s why the next step is important.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Strain the sauce to make it velvety and smooth.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Add the sauce and 2 cups of water to the stockpot of cooked meat. Let everything cook together for 30 minutes. And… Boom! You’ve got Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado!

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Man, oh man. This is incredible. Serve your Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado, with Mexican rice and garnish with cilantro. The best part of the chamorro is eating the bone marrow. It’s just so incredibly delicious and contains healthy fats that are good for you.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

I cook it. I cook it real good. And then I eat it. I eat it real good…… until I’m totally comfortable.

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado, is destined to be one of your family favorites. Enjoy!

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks is a delicious dish that is deep in flavor. It’s a great example of Mexican comfort food sure to be loved by your entire family.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 298kcal
Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

  • 10 chile guajillo stems removed, seeded and deveined
  • 2 chile ancho stems removed, seeded and deveined
  • 8 cups water divided
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ¼ onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon
  • ½ teaspoon whole oregano crushed in your hand
  • ½ teaspoon whole cumin
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 4 beef shanks
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

Instructions

  • For the Sauce:
  • In a stockpot, add the cleaned guajillo and ancho chiles along with 4 cups of water.
  • Cover and bring to a boil.
  • Turn heat off.
  • Let sit for 10 minutes.
  • Discard water.
  • To a blender, add all the chiles, 2 cups of water, garlic, onion, bouillon, oregano, cumin, and salt.
  • Strain the sauce into a separate container.
  • Gently push the sauce through the strainer with the back of a cooking spoon.
  • Set sauce aside until ready to use.
  • For the meat:
  • Separate the meat from the bone.
  • Salt and pepper the meat.
  • Heat the oil in a large stockpot.
  • Brown the meat, stirring occasionally.
  • Add flour to the meat pot.
  • Cook for 2 minutes, or until you can no longer see the white flour.
  • Add the sauce and remaining two cups of water.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on low-medium heat for 30 minutes.
  • Taste for salt.
  • Serve with rice, beans, and flour tortillas.

Notes

Serve with rice, beans, and flour tortillas.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 896mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 6953IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!

Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks (or Chamorros con Chile Colorado) is a robust and rich in flavor dish. This is Mexican recipe destined to be one of your family favorites. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Filed Under: Beef, Mexican, Recipes

About Maggie Unzueta

Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ellena ruiz

    December 8, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    All look so yummy especially the chile Colorado and Chamorro. Question: do you use this same chile recipe for your tamales??

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      December 9, 2017 at 10:54 am

      Kinda … For Beef Tamales, I use a similar sauce. I use MORE guajillo chiles and more liquid. It is also simmered for a a long, long time so the meat is more tender than the chamorro, or beef shanks.

      Reply
  2. Catalina

    February 28, 2020 at 12:21 am

    This recipe looks delicious. I recently bought an instant pot; I think I’ll try using it for this recipe. Of course, I’ll have to figure out the cooking time. Any hints? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 4, 2020 at 8:48 am

      Yes! I am all about my instant pot. You’re going to love it too. Here’s what to do for the IP: Add the meat to the pot with 2 cups beef broth. Cover with the lid. Move the valve to sealing. Hit the MEAT/STEW button. Let it go through the cycle. Release the pressure by moving the valve to venting. When you open the lid, the liquid will be fatty. Remove some of the fat. Add the chile colorado sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, just on heat. It will not be as thick as the one here because no flour is used, but it will still be as delicious.

      Reply
  3. Elena Estrada

    November 14, 2020 at 8:24 am

    5 stars
    Made it and love it!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      November 16, 2020 at 11:16 am

      Glad you loved it Elena!

      Reply
  4. Alejandra

    December 4, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    I recently discovered your recipes through Pinterest, and I LOVE them. You make Mexican cooking feel so easy and approachable. Thank you for the amazing recipes!

    Reply
    • Maggie U

      December 9, 2020 at 11:42 am

      Thank you very much! So glad to read that you enjoyed my recipes!

      Reply
  5. Jaime

    August 19, 2021 at 6:49 pm

    5 stars
    This was one of the 1st recipies I tried and I was amazed at how easy it was to cook! My dad said it reminded him of the way my Nana use to cook.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      September 14, 2021 at 9:57 am

      Aww! That’s exactly what I strive for – to cook like my grandma.

      Reply
  6. Deb Martens

    September 23, 2021 at 11:16 am

    Super delicious recipe and easy to make. I am from Mexico living abroad and I would say this is one is a real traditional Mexican dish. Best recipe ever.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      September 23, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      Wonderful to hear. So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

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iBienvenidos! I'm Maggie. Welcome to my blog! My passion is authentic Mexican food and traveling throughout Mexico to bring you the very BEST in culture and cuisine.

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