The Battle of the Grill: Steak vs Barbacoa

When you think of barbecue, you probably think of beef. And while that’s true of many traditional American barbecues, in other parts of the world the tradition of cooking meat over an open flame is just as common. One of the most popular barbecue styles in Mexico is barbacoa – which is exactly what it sounds like.

Barbacoa is a form of slow-cooked meat, typically made with lamb. The name is derived from the Spanish word for “barbecue” and refers to the process of cooking the meat using a whole animal. The meat is cooked for several hours in a pit, on a grill, or over fire. It is then shredded and flavored with special mixtures, spices and sauces.

What is barbacoa?

Barbacoa is a style of Mexican barbecue characterized by use of a whole animal, typically a lamb, goat or cow that has been cooked for several hours in a pit, on a grill or over an open flame. The meat is shredded and flavoured with special mixtures and seasonings and served in tacos, burritos or as a filling for enchiladas. The meat can also be made into a soup or stew.

Barbacoa was traditionally cooked on Fridays in Mexico, but these days it can be found on any day of the week.

Steak vs. barbacoa

There are a few things to take note of when comparing steak to barbacoa. For one, since steak is cut from the round, it is much less expensive than the more common lamb. In fact, a 3-ounce portion of steak can cost as little as $2, compared to $8 for a pound of lamb. Although lamb is also used for Barbacoa, it is more commonly found in Barbacoa de Cebolla, which is made with onions and not the same as Barbacoa Asado.

Final Words: Is one better than the other?

In short, it all comes down to personal preference. Both steak and barbacoa are excellent forms of barbecued meat. As with most meats, steak is better eaten with vegetables and other vegetables, although other meats can be eaten with steak. But regardless of what you call it, when it comes to barbecue, these meats have one thing in common – they are both delicious!

Wrapping it up

Barbacoa and steak might sound similar, but they are actually quite different. Steak is more expensive and comes from a single animal. Barbacoa, on the other hand, comes from a whole animal and can be made from either beef, lamb or goat.

While steak might be the more popular choice, thanks to its versatility and high quality, barbacoa can still hold its own when it comes to barbecue. With its origins in Mexico, the style of slow-cooked meat can be found in many other countries as well, making it a truly global cuisine.