Barbacoa is well-known for its irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavour. But what exactly is barbacoa? Here’s what you need to know about this classic Mexican dish.

Photo: iStock
Barbacoa: What Is It and How to Cook It?
While the preparations described above are common throughout Mexico, each region has its particular way of making barbacoa. There can be variations in the type of meat, the type of condiments, the wrapping material used – in some places, meat is wrapped in banana leaves instead of maguey leaves – as well as the method of baking or steaming. Cooking methods vary in different locations: barbacoa can be steamed in a large stove-top pot or roasted in a regular oven. Even vegetables, herbs, and spices range from naturally sweet orange juice and cloves through a variety of fresh and dried chilli peppers, all the way to bitter herbs and vinegar.
However, the common feature of all barbacoa is a long, slow cooking time and a result that is tender, easy to shred, and maintains its natural moisture.
Barbacoa is considered a delicacy, a gourmet dish for special occasions despite its unsophisticated ingredients and rustic appearance. Like many iconic meat recipes that are difficult to prepare, barbacoa is not something you'd find on a regular Mexican menu. Generally, you can enjoy the dish at three types of venues: traditional family-run restaurants or market stalls, local community groups that prepare it together (for example, during their town's patron saint celebration), and banquet halls or private residences where it is served at a wedding, quinceañera party, or other social events.