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’m used to seeing Pork Chile Colorado. I rushed home to make Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado. Here’s the recipe..
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Table of Contents
Instructions
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.
More of my grandmother’s recipes:
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 beef shank. 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. 🙂
Other Cuts of Meat:
- Chuck Roast
- Beef Tips
- Beef Round
- Sirloin
- Oxtail
Chuck roast is my personal favorite to make stews (or guisados) like this one. It’s also the same cut of beef used to make Birria – Birria Ramen, Birria Pizza, and Instant Pot Birria Tacos.
- Chop up that the meat into small pieces and then throw it into the pot.
- Include the bone and cook until brown.
Make it in half the time and make Instant Pot Chile Colorado!
While this happening, make the sauce. Now, lets talk sauce..
How to Make the Sauce
These are ancho chile and guajillo chile. If you don’t like it too spicy, use more chile ancho and less chile guajillo.
Look for pliable chiles that bend easily. This means they are newly dried chiles.
You might think these are a lot of chiles, but they are need to make the robust and strong in flavor in the sauce.
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.
- 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.
- Add the rehydrated chiles and remaining ingredients to a blender.
- Blast the blender until smooth.
Make this ahead of time to save time.
It’s a thick sauce. That’s why the next step is important.
Freeze it!
Store in an sealable bag, remove as much air as possible and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw and use as normal.
Strain the sauce to make it velvety and smooth.
This will help remove any pieces of dried chile that remained.
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!
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.
More Northern Mexican Dishes:
Served With:
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!
HUNGRY FOR MORE
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Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment and rate below!
Braised Chile Colorado Beef Shanks, or Chamorros con Chile Colorado
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
Nutrition
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.
Wonderful to hear. So glad you enjoyed it!
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.
Aww! That’s exactly what I strive for – to cook like my grandma.
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!
Thank you very much! So glad to read that you enjoyed my recipes!
Made it and love it!
Glad you loved it Elena!
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.
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.
All look so yummy especially the chile Colorado and Chamorro. Question: do you use this same chile recipe for your tamales??
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.