Directions

Cut the beef into large chunks and season with kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper. If grilling, lightly coat the meat chunks with oil and cook on the grill until charred on all sides. Repeat technique with onion pieces.

If sautéing, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2-3 tablespoons oil to the pan and sear the pieces, turning to brown all sides. Repeat technique with the onions and cook to soften and lightly brown. (n.b. Be sure to cook the meat ‘in batches’; that is do not crowd the pan while cooking or the beef chunks will ‘steam’ and not brown properly.)

Add all the grilled or pan-seared meat and onions to a Dutch Oven/casserole pot. To the pot, add the peeled and smashed garlic cloves, the oregano, the ground cumin, the canned chipotle peppers, the roasted red pepper, the ketchup, orange peel and juice of the orange. Add the apple cider vinegar as well.

Stir all ingredients to combine. Barely cover with liquid-beef or chicken stock. Bring to a simmer.

Turn off.

Working quickly, cover pot with a piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper. You are covering the ingredients…the foil or parchment should be flush down on top of the ingredients. Then cover the pot with its cover. (If the pot doesn’t have a designated cover, use a second piece of foil.) The two covers will keep the liquids from evaporating while the meat is cooking and provide a bit of pressure-cooking.

Braise the meat until very, very tender—about 2 ¼ to2 ½ hours or more as needed.

Remove meat to a dish and let cool until you can handle it.

Strain the liquid, separating liquids and ‘solids’. (the ‘solids’ consist of the cooked onions, garlic, chipotle and red peppers, etc.)

Let the liquid cool and skim off the fat that comes to the surface.

Remove the strips of orange peel from the ‘solids’ and discard.

Add the ‘solids’ to a blender and add enough braising liquid to cover. Puree until a thick sauce consistency is achieved. (You will likely have extra braising juices; save to make another braise or use to heat up beans, soup, etc.)

Taste and adjust seasoning… more salt, pepper, spice, vinegar ??

Keep warm in a small saucepan, over low heat and stir often—don’t let it stick to the bottom of the pot and burn!The chunks of meat should now be cool enough to handle. Shred the meat and coat them with the pureed sauce you just made.

Toss the coleslaw with dressing. Slice the jalapenos into thin rings.

Make some sprigs of cilantro.

Fill the taco shells with some of the sauced meat. Top each taco with some prepared coleslaw, optional dollop of guacamole, sliced jalapenos, and sprigs of cilantro.