MEXICAN ESSENTIALS: AWESOME STEAK TACO MEAT

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• For this recipe, you will need an ovenproof pot, with a tight-fitting lid. If you have a Dutch oven, that would be perfect.
• The Peppers If you like Mexican food, you probably have a few cans of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, hanging about your storeroom. They are great in so many recipes. In this recipe, I chop them up in a bit of the sauce, and throw them into the pot. Some people prefer to scrape out the seeds before chopping... that is up to you. I make my own chipotle pepper in sauce, and someday I will have to post the recipe. FYI: The intensity of this recipe comes from the chipotle peppers, and the chili powders. Feel free to adjust those items to develop the exact level of heat you desire.
• Here is a photo of my favorite canned variety of chipotle peppers. However, there are a lot of good brands available.
• Where's the Beef? You could probably use just about any type of beef for this recipe. As a matter of fact, the most common type used for a recipe like this is flank steak Both flank and flat-iron steak are flavorful. The flank comes from the belly muscle, while the flat-iron hails from the chuck primal. One of the big differences between the two is that the flat-iron has a bit more marbling (fat), and I want some of that yummy fat to increase the flavors of the recipe.
• Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• Place a rack in the bottom position, and preheat the oven to 250f (120c).
• Cut the flat-iron steak against the grain into thin strips, I am thinking about 1/4-inch (0.6cm). If you want a bit more of a chew, cut them a little thicker. However, I would not go much thinner, or they will fall apart in the braising liquid.
• Add all the braising ingredients to an ovenproof pot, and stir to combine.
• Add the beef, and combine with the other ingredients.
• Cover the pot, and place into the preheated oven, for one hour.
• Remove the pot, give the beef a quick stir, then re-cover, place back into the oven, increase the temperature to 275f (135c), and cook for an additional hour.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• I love using this beef for tacos; however, there are so many creative ways to enjoy its spicy flavor. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.