Barbacoa is a traditional Mexican dish, made by cooking meat (usually pork) in an earthen oven or pit. The name “barbacoa” comes from the Spanish word “barbacu” or smokehouse. This kind of preparation originated back when the first Europeans arrived in the Americas, but it has now become a staple in many homes and restaurants. This isn’t the first time we have discussed lamb recipes on our blog. In fact, we have seen many people loving our recipes for lamb; even so that we have decided to make another post about this amazing red meat. The truth is, there are many ways to cook lamb that results in a delicious meal with plenty of benefits for your health. And among them all, barbacoa is one of the tastiest and easiest options for home cooks.
Is Barbacoa Healthy?
Yes! Barbacoa is actually a very healthy dish. It’s made from slow-cooked beef or lamb that’s shredded and typically served with spicy salsa or sauce. The meat is low in fat and high in protein, and the spices used in the dish can help to boost your metabolism and improve circulation. Plus, barbacoa is a great source of fiber, which can help to regulate digestion. So go ahead and enjoy a bowl of barbacoa – it’s good for you!
Health Benefits Of Barbacoa
1. It’s a great source of protein
The most important thing about barbacoa is that it is a great source of protein. You can have it as part of your daily diet and it will help you to stay healthy. It’s high in iron, zinc, and other minerals that are essential for the body’s growth and development. It also has significant amounts of B vitamins, which are important for strengthening the immune system. As we mentioned before, red meat is an excellent option for those who want to build muscles and lose weight fast; but eating barbacoa won’t only help you achieve this goal; it will also boost your energy levels and keep you active throughout the day!
2. It’s a good source of iron
Barbacoa contains iron, which is an essential nutrient in the body that helps with many bodily functions such as blood formation, oxygen transportation, and cell metabolism. Red meat also contains other trace elements such as zinc, copper, and selenium. This means that you will get all the necessary nutrients from eating a small piece of barbacoa. It’s also important to remember that iron is an essential mineral for the proper function of red blood cells; which means that we need to eat it regularly and in sufficient amounts.
3. It’s high in protein
You might be surprised to learn that barbacoa is a good source of protein. In fact, it contains more than 33% of the daily recommended value of protein! Protein is vital for healthy hair, skin, nails, and bones, muscle growth and maintenance; as well as for improving your mood, digestion, and metabolism. It’s also crucial in building up your immune system so you can fight off infections effectively. There are many other benefits that come with consuming more protein, but this is one of them!
4. It has significant amounts of B vitamins
Barbacoa is also a great source of B vitamins. It provides you with the necessary amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. Thiamin is known as vitamin B1 and it helps with proper energy production and metabolism. Riboflavin is known as vitamin B2 and it helps the body to produce energy from foodstuffs. Niacin is also called vitamin B3 and it’s necessary for proper nerve function. Folate is an essential vitamin that helps with DNA synthesis, cell division, and reproduction; as well as reducing homocysteine levels in the blood (a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases).
5. It has significant amounts of zinc
Zinc plays an important role in maintaining your immune system; it helps your body fight off infections by helping to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in your body. Zinc also supports healthy skin, eyesight, taste buds, hair growth, and immunity. It’s also necessary for many other functions in the body such as protein synthesis, cell growth, and metabolism.
Nutrition Of Barbacoa
- The first thing that you need to know about barbacoa is that it can be a great source of protein. The most important thing about this meat is that you should not worry about the amount of fat in it. In fact, the fat from the meat is considered healthy and helps with weight loss.
- The second thing to consider when cooking barbacoa is how much water you use while cooking it. If you use too much water, then your dish will become dry and bland and will not taste good at all.
- When cooking barbacoa, always make sure to serve it with fresh vegetables and a salsa made from tomatoes or avocado for extra flavor. And if you want to include some beans as well, then you can do so without any problems at all!
- To get more nutrition from this dish, mix some corn tortillas with the meat before serving them on a plate so that they get crispy on the outside but remain soft on the inside.
- If you want to make barbacoa with beef instead of pork, then you should mix it with a little bit of tomato sauce.
- You can also include some avocado in the dish to get even more nutrients from it.
- You can add a little bit of cilantro to the dish or top it with cheese and sour cream to give it a different flavor and texture!
How To Make Healthy Barbacoa At Home?
1. Choose the right cuts of lamb
The cuts of lamb for this recipe are shoulder and leg. But, you can use any cut of lamb that you want to cook in your barbacoa.
2. Prepare the meat first
Remove excess fat from the meat and make sure all the bones are removed so it will be easy to cut and serve. Then, rub it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin seeds (if you want more flavor). Make sure that the meat is completely covered with these seasonings before putting in a large plastic bag or a bowl and putting it in the freezer for at least 4 hours or overnight. This will help with cooking time later on when you put them in an earthen oven or pit to cook.
Prepare your earthen oven or pit
You can make your own barbacoa pit or use a commercially made one. This will help with cooking time and yield, but you need to make sure that the pit or oven is big enough for the cuts of lamb. If you don’t have one, then use a regular oven that’s big enough to fit all the meat at once.
Cook it!
Once all your ingredients are ready and you have prepared your earthen oven or pit, put all the meat in one layer on top of a foil-lined tray and put this on top of another tray (so it will be easy to take out). If you want to keep the meat moist while it’s cooking, then put some water in between each layer as well. Place this on top of an earthen oven or pit and cook for about 2 hours at 200ºF (93ºC). For large cuts, cook them for 3 hours or overnight.
Serve and enjoy!
After cooking for about 2 hours, remove the meat from the oven or pit and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. It’s best to serve it with a side of fresh vegetables or salad. This is also a great option for entertaining because you can make this in advance and keep it in your fridge until you are ready to use it. You can also save some of the meat for later on if you have leftovers, but make sure that you keep them in an airtight container so they won’t spoil.
Conclusion
Barbacoa is a delicious and nutritious Mexican dish that is also very affordable to make at home. Barbacoa is also very healthy, especially when it’s made with lean meat, and it contains tons of vitamins and minerals that promote good health. Barbacoa is particularly high in iron, B vitamins, and Vitamin C, which are essential for good health. This delicious dish is perfect for the whole family, and you can make it as spicy as you like.
