The Barbacoa Plug's Live-Fire Birria Mozzarella Sticks

🔥 Live-Fire Birria Mozzarella Sticks

Meat

3–4 lb chuck roast or beef shank
Salt & coarse black pepper

Chile Base

6 guajillo chiles
3 ancho chiles
2 árbol chiles (optional)

Aromatics

1 large white onion
6 garlic cloves
2 Roma tomatoes

Spices

1 tbsp Mexican oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
½ tsp ground cloves
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Liquid

Beef stock or water (just to cover)

🔥 Potjie Method

1. Medium-low live fire under potjie.
2. Toast dried chiles lightly.
3. Soak in hot water 15 min.
4. Blend chiles with aromatics, spices, vinegar.
5. Season beef and add to potjie.
6. Pour sauce over, add stock.
7. Cover and cook 3–4 hours until shreddable.
8. Shred beef very fine.
9. Reduce 1 cup consomé until thick and glossy.

🔥 You want flavor, not liquid.

🧀 Building the Birria Mozzarella Sticks

Cheese

2 lb low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella
Cut into 1 × 4 inch sticks

Birria Coating

2 cups finely shredded birria
¼–½ cup thickened consomé (just enough to bind)

Wrap Method 

1. Lightly press birria meat around the mozzarella stick, forming a tight, even layer.
2. Chill immediately.
🔥 Think “meat jacket,” not loose shreds.

❄️ Freeze (Mandatory)
* Freeze sticks 45–60 minutes
* They should feel firm, not rock solid
This step is what keeps the cheese inside.

🍞 Breading Station (Heavy-Duty)

Flour

AP flour
Salt
Black pepper
Garlic powder
Paprika

Egg Wash

Eggs
Splash of milk or water

Panko

Plain panko
Optional: crushed tortilla chips or cornflakes (🔥 crunch)

Double Breading Method

1. Flour → tap excess
2. Egg wash
3. Panko (press firmly)
4. Back into egg
5. Final panko coat (press HARD)
🔥 If you skip the double bread, they will blow out.

❄️ Second Freeze

Freeze breaded sticks 30 minutes
This is clutch for disc frying.

🔥 Disc Frying (Live Fire)

Oil

Beef tallow or high-heat oil
1–1½ inches deep

Temp

350–360°F

Frying

Fry 3–4 sticks at a time
Rotate constantly
2½–3 minutes
Pull when golden brown
🔥 If oil gets too hot, slide disc off coals slightly.

🌮 Serve With

* Hot birria consomé (dip)
* Cilantro & white onion
* Lime wedges
* Salsa roja or habanero crema