Chipotle's Copycat Barbacoa Meat

We used this delicious slow-cooked beef in tacos (instead of burritos).  I'd like to make this again and use it for burrito bowls.  It was very flavorful!  Of course, the rice and Pico de Gallo helped with the whole experience.  When making the sauce ingredients, I used my immersion blender, and for some reason, everything exploded all over the counter.  Not sure why!  But I'd use a regular blender next time.  Or maybe my immersion blender is just weird.

Chipotle's Copycat Barbacoa Meat
adapted from The Slow Roasted Italian

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
3-4 pound chuck roast, fat trimmed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 bay leaves

Sauce:
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
6 cloves garlic
4 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground clove
4 chipotle peppers (from a can, packed in adobo sauce)
1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from the chipotle pepper can)
1 cup chicken broth (or 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon chicken base)
¼ cup fresh lime juice

1.  Prepare roast. Make sure all visible fat is trimmed. Cut into 8 chunks. Sprinkle all sides of cut beef with ½ teaspoon of salt, reserving the remaining 1/2 tsp. Set aside.

2.  In a blender or food processor combine the sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside. If you do not have a food processor or blender, mince the garlic and chipotle peppers. Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined.

3.  Warm a heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat, until water dripped over top sizzles. Add oil. Sear all sides of cut beef. Once all sides are seared, place seared beef into slow cooker. Set slow cooker temperature to high. Pour sauce over top. Add bay leaves. Cook for 5-6 hours on high (or 8 hours on low) covered.

4.  After about 5 hours (or 7 hours on low) shred beef using 2 forks to pull it apart. Taste, and add additional teaspoon of salt (if needed), stir to completely coat in sauce. Cover and cook for 1 more hour. After this time you can serve and enjoy or turn slow cooker to warm until ready to serve.

To create burrito: Layer pico de gallo, Cilantro Lime Rice and Chipotle’s Copycat Barbacoa Meat on a large flour tortilla. Additional toppings of  guacamole, sour cream and cheddar cheese are also great. (Or serve in tacos with the same toppings, like we did.)

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