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Lamb Barbacoa Tacos
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Prep
15 minutes
Cook
5 minutes
Total
20 min
Serves
1 plate (2 tacos)
Rich, tender, and layered, braised lamb with bright apple-fennel slaw, earthy fava beans, and a creamy potato base. A lot going on in a small taco, but each part earns its place.
Ingredients
- 115g (4 oz) braised lamb belly (see recipe)
- 60g (2 oz) potato puree
- 60g (2 oz) shaved green apple and fennel
- 30 ml (1 oz) escabeche juice (from escabeche recipe)
- 30g (1 oz) fava beans, cooked
- 1 tbsp chipotle puree
- 2 corn tortillas
- fennel fronds, for garnish
- Maldon salt, for garnish
Instructions
- 1Warm the tortillas on a hot comal or grill.
- 2Spread equal portions of potato puree on each tortilla.
- 3Add equal portions of braised lamb on top.
- 4In a small bowl, toss the shaved fennel and apple with escabeche juice.
- 5In another small bowl, mix fava beans with chipotle puree.
- 6Add equal portions of the fennel-apple mix and seasoned fava beans to each taco.
- 7Garnish with fennel fronds.
- 8Finish with Maldon salt.
Cook's Note
Shave the fennel as thin as you can, use a mandoline if you have one. Thick slices are too crunchy and take over everything else. The escabeche juice also pickles the apple slightly as it sits, so this component is better made a few minutes ahead.
Best Served With
A cold dark beer or a mezcal with lime. Lime wedges and extra escabeche on the side.
Why This Recipe Works
The potato puree acts as a cushion that holds everything in place and keeps the lamb from sliding off. Fennel and apple add crunch and brightness to cut through the richness. Chipotle on the fava beans keeps the dish from tasting flat in the middle.
Make It Yours
- Swap fava beans for edamame or black beans
- Add a drizzle of salsa verde over the top
- Use lamb shoulder instead of belly for a leaner version
- Thin the chipotle puree with crema for a lighter sauce
Leftover Strategy
Store each component separately. Lamb keeps 4 days, potato puree 3 days. The fennel-apple mix is best made fresh. Reassemble to order.
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Pairing
A smoky mezcal cocktail works well with the complexity here. A porter or stout also holds up if you prefer beer.
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