Jul 09 2026
Restaurants›The Original Carolina's Mexican Food›Green Machaca & Beans Burro Recipe

Green Machaca & Beans Burro Recipe

Inspired by The Original Carolina's Mexican Food
Time2h 30m
Serves4

Shredded beef and homemade refried beans, typically includes green chilies, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.

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Ingredients

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Green Machaca (Shredded Beef)

Refried Beans (Homemade)

Tortillas & Additions

Method

Green Machaca (Shredded Beef)

  1. 1

    Season the beef

    In a large bowl, rub the beef chunks with 0.5 tsp salt, 0.5 tsp pepper, 1 tsp cumin, and 1 tsp chili powder. Toss to coat evenly.

  2. 2

    Brown the beef

    Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Sear the beef on all sides until deeply browned. Remove and set aside.

  3. 3

    Sauté aromatics

    In the same pot, add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

  4. 4

    Add chilies and paste

    Stir in the chopped green chilies and tomato paste; cook for 1 minute to bloom the flavors.

  5. 5

    Braise the beef

    Return beef to the pot. Pour in beef stock and add the bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Braise for 1.5–2 hours, until beef is tender and shreds easily.

  6. 6

    Shred and finish

    Remove bay leaf. Transfer beef to a plate and shred with two forks. Return shredded beef to the pot and simmer for 5–10 minutes to meld flavors. If the liquid is too abundant, simmer uncovered to lightly reduce.

Refried Beans (Homemade)

  1. 7

    Cook the beans

    Rinse the pinto beans. In a pot, combine beans with 4 cups water and the half onion. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 60–90 minutes until very tender. Add garlic in the last 10 minutes of cooking.

  2. 8

    Mash and refry

    Drain beans, reserving about 1 cup of cooking liquid. In a skillet, heat 2 tbsp oil. Add beans and mash with a spoon, gradually adding reserved liquid to reach a creamy, thick consistency. Season with 0.5 tsp salt and adjust to taste.

Burro Assembly

  1. 9

    Warm tortillas

    Warm the flour tortillas in a dry skillet or briefly in the microwave until pliable.

  2. 10

    Assemble burritos

    Spread a line of refried beans down the center of each tortilla. Top with a generous portion of green machaca.

  3. 11

    Add toppings and roll

    If using, sprinkle shredded cheese over the beef and add cilantro. Fold the sides and roll the tortilla closed. Optional: toast the burrito seam-side down in a skillet for 1–2 minutes per side to seal and lightly crisp.

  4. 12

    Serve

    Cut burritos in half if desired, garnish with lime wedges, and serve immediately.

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