Cola Shredded Beef

Ingredients:

• Beef
• 3 medium dried ancho chiles*
• 2 large dried guajillo chiles*
• 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided 
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 
• 2 large garlic cloves, sliced 
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 cup canned diced tomatoes 
• 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano*
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 2 pounds chuck roast, cut into 4 pieces 
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1 1/2 cups Mexican Coca-Cola* (cane-sugar sweetened) or another cola (not diet)
• Tacos:
• 12 to 24 warm corn tortillas (6-in. size; use 24 if they're thin and floppy)
• Accompaniments: chopped avocado, red onion, and cilantro; thinly sliced pickled jalapeños; and crema Mexicana* or regular sour cream 

Preparation:

• Make sauce for beef: Wipe chiles clean with a damp cloth, stem and seed, and tear into pieces. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. 
• Sauté onion and garlic until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chiles and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, the cumin, tomatoes, oregano, and 1 tsp. salt. 
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until chiles are softened, about 10 minutes. Purée sauce in a blender until very smooth.
• Meanwhile, season beef with the remaining tsp. salt. Heat the remaining tbsp. oil in a 5- to 6-qt. pot over medium-high heat. Brown beef, turning occasionally, 10 to 14 minutes. Discard fat, if any.
• Pour sauce into pot and add bay leaf, cola, and a little water if needed to barely cover meat. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until beef is very tender, 3 hours.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer beef to a plate. Let cool slightly, then tear into shreds, discarding any fat or gristle. 
• Meanwhile, boil sauce over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and reduced to about 3 cups, 10 to 30 minutes. Stir in beef and heat a few minutes until hot. Remove bay leaf.
• Make tacos: With a slotted spoon, transfer beef with some sauce to a bowl. Spoon beef into tortillas (double tortillas if they're thin), tuck in accompaniments, and serve with remaining sauce if you like.
• *Find in the Latino foods aisle or spice aisle of a supermarket, or at a Latino market.
• Make ahead: Through step 3; chill, covered, up to 2 days.

Shared by Maria Mendez