Lamb Barbacoa in Adobo

2 days ago 4

Democracy Dies successful Darkness

Barbacoa is 1 of the astir celebrated and past slow-cooked foods of Mexico. The marinade utilized present contains immoderate of the ingredients brought to the state by the Spanish successful the 1500s: garlic, bulb and cinnamon. The meats were wrapped successful leaves and cooked overnight oregon each time successful underground pits.

This look is simply a repast successful itself, with vegetables, nutrient and sauce. Most radical devour the barbacoa with a broadside of maize tortillas, arsenic we person suggested here.

You tin find bags of dried avocado leaves and frozen banana leaves astatine Panam International Supermarket successful the District (202-545-0290). The avocado leaves, utilized to spirit the meat, are optional; they impart a flimsy anise spirit and aroma. The banana leaves oregon aluminum foil tin beryllium utilized to wrapper the meat; the leaves lend a grassy flavor.

The dried garbanzo beans (chickpeas) request to beryllium soaked overnight. The lamb needs 2 to 24 hours' marinating clip successful the refrigerator. To reheat, spot the vegetables and nutrient successful a ample saucepan implicit debased heat. Add h2o arsenic needed; screen and lukewarm through.

From Pati Jinich, cook of the Mexican Cultural Institute, who adapted the crockery from a decades-old look of the archetypal El Caballo Bayo edifice successful Mexico City.

Ingredients

measuring cup

Servings: 12-14

For the marinade

10 dried guajillo chile peppers, stemmed and seeded (see headnote)
10 dried ancho chile peppers, stemmed and seeded (see headnote)
5 cups water
1/3 cupful pome cider vinegar
1 mean Roma tomato, chopped into quarters
1/2 mean achromatic onion, coarsely chopped (1/2 cup)
3 mean cloves garlic
1 tablespoonful dried oregano
1/2 spoon crushed cinnamon
1/2 spoon crushed allspice
1/2 spoon freshly crushed achromatic pepper
5 full cloves, stems removed
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher oregon oversea salt
3 tablespoons safflower oregon rootlike oil

For the rootlike base

2 mean achromatic onions, coarsely chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped crosswise into chunks
1 1/2 pounds reddish potatoes, peeled and chopped into ample cubes
8 ounces dried garbanzo beans, soaked overnight successful 3 cups of precise blistery water, past drained (see headnote)
12 ounces (1 bottle) light-colored beer, specified arsenic Corona
3 cups water
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher oregon oversea salt

For the meat

8 pounds bone-in limb and enarthrosis of lamb (or a limb oregon a shoulder)
1 lb banana leaves (see headnote)
5 to 6 caller oregon dried avocado leaves (optional; spot headnote)

For assembly

Lime wedges, for serving
Warmed maize tortillas, for serving

Nutritional Facts

Per serving (based connected 14, not including tortillas)

Calories
670
Fat
22 g
Saturated Fat
7 g
Carbohydrates
29 g
Sodium
771 mg
Cholesterol
227 mg
Protein
80 g
Fiber
8 g
Sugar
2 g

This investigation is an estimation based connected disposable ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian’s oregon nutritionist’s advice.

From Pati Jinich, cook of the Mexican Cultural Institute, who adapted the crockery from a decades-old look of the archetypal El Caballo Bayo edifice successful Mexico City.

Tested by Patricia Jinich.

Published February 23, 2010

Updated March 13, 2026