This Smoked Meat Puts An Unexpected Twist On Classic Birria

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Birria tacos with consommé is a popular Mexican dish making a savory splash upon today's food scene. While the classic stew is typically made with goat meat, modern iterations often call for lamb, beef, or pork. If you're looking for a poultry-forward spin on this traditional dish, try using smoked turkey instead.

The sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors of an authentic birria come from the broth in which it's simmered. This is usually composed of tomatoes, dried chiles such as ancho, guajillo, and arbol, and spices and seasonings including cinnamon, cumin, thyme, clove, oregano, bay leaves, and black pepper. Using smoked turkey will enhance the overall smoky flavor profile and complement the ingredients in a traditional birria broth.

To make this swap, simply cook your smoked turkey in a homemade or store-bought birria marinade until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. Discard the turkey bones and use your shredded meat like you would in any other recipe for birria tacos. You can do this with an Instant pot, in a slow cooker, or in a pot on the stovetop. This is a great twist on tacos that allows you to enjoy the succulent taste and texture of birria even if you don't consume red meat.

If there's one mistake to avoid when cooking store-bought smoked turkey, it's adding salt. Whether you're using legs, wings, or otherwise, this smoked meat has plenty of salt and shouldn't need more for your birria tacos. Focus on the other hallmark seasonings to elevate your lean poultry.

Be sure to dip your corn tortillas in the braising liquid before warming them on a skillet and adding cheese and the smoked meat. Serve these with a garnish of lime wedges and a side of consommé for dipping. Use either store-bought or homemade chicken or turkey stock instead of beef broth in your consommé to tie the flavors together.

While Colby-jack is a reliable choice of cheese, there are other options to consider if you want to amp up the taste of your turkey birria tacos. Try shredded pepper jack cheese for extra spiciness or your favorite plant-based cheese blend for a dairy-free version. Start with a slow cooker birria recipe and substitute smoked turkey for an even easier, hands-off approach. As a leaner option than traditional goat or beef and plenty of crave-worthy smoky taste, these turkey birria tacos are sure to please.