Al Pastor-Inspired Corned Beef Silverside by Antonio Cruz Vaamonde

Method

Set your oven to broil or highest setting.
Place the onion quarters and garlic on a tray and roast until well charred. Alternatively, char them in a dry frying pan over high heat.
Meanwhile, place the dried chillies and whole tomato in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soften for 10 minutes.
Add the charred onions and garlic, softened chillies, tomato, pineapple (including the juice), chipotles in adobo (if using), smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, brown sugar, black pepper and tomato paste to a blender.
Add a splash of the chilli soaking liquid and blend until smooth.
Place the corned beef silversides into a large pot or Dutch oven and pour over the sauce.
Add the beef stock, coriander stems and bay leaves. Add a little extra water if needed, so the meat is mostly submerged.
Bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook on very low heat for approximately 2 hours, or until tender enough to pull apart.
Once cooked, remove the corned beef silversides from the cooking liquid.
Pull one silverside apart while still warm for tacos, nachos and loaded fries.
Refrigerate the second corned beef silverside overnight before slicing thinly for sandwiches and ramen.

Top Tips

Slow Cooker Option: Cook on High for 3-4 hours or Low for 6-8 hours.
Don’t throw away the cooking liquid! It’s packed with flavour and can be used as a dipping broth for tacos, the base of a soup, or to cook noodles for an easy next-day meal.
Once shredded, freeze portions of the corned beef silverside with a little of the cooking liquid. It’ll stay juicy, and you’ve got the base for quick lunches and dinners ready to go.
Don’t treat all of the corned beef silverside the same. Pull some while it’s hot, crumble some for nachos, and chill some overnight for neat slices in sandwiches and ramen.

More about this recipe

5 Ways to Use Your Al Pastor Corned Beef Silverside

1. Quesa Tacos
Layer mozzarella cheese in a frying pan, place a tortilla on top and cook until crispy. Fill with pulled corned beef silverside, pico de gallo and coriander. Serve with the cooking liquid for dipping.

2. Loaded Chips
Top crispy chips with pulled corned beef silverside, burger sauce and freshly cracked pepper.

3. Loaded Nachos
Layer corn chips with chopped corned beef silverside, Mexican beans and mozzarella. Bake until melted and finish with pico de gallo and sour cream.

4. Toasted Sandwich
Fill fresh IGA bakery bread with sliced corned beef silverside, tomato, cheese and mayonnaise before toasting until golden.

5. Corned Beef Silverside Ramen
Cook ramen noodles in the strained cooking liquid. Top with sliced corned beef silverside, avocado, Mexican-style corn, crunchy corn chips and fresh coriander.