Watch Authentic Puebla-Style Goat Barbacoa Cooked in a Ground Oven

There is magic in witnessing the process of authentic Puebla-style goat barbacoa being made. The preparation, the time dedicated, the meticulous details considered, the execution of tried and true techniques, this all adds up to a final product that is as satisfying and delicious as watching the process of its creation.

Barbakush is a pop-up in Baldwin Park, California that commits to the whole process of cooking whole goat barbacoa in a ground oven — the authentic Puebla way. The collective effort from Petra Zavaleta, her husband, Felix Rodriguez, and their son, Delfino Rodriguez, is what makes up Barbakush.

The craft of making goat barbacoa in such authentic fashion is made up of choosing the right goats, digging out the fire pit, sourcing the maguey leaves, cooking the goat meat overnight in a ground oven, gathering the delicate and supple meat in the morning, creating the flavorful consomé, serving up perfect handmade tortillas, and selling the delicious product by the pound to eager customers.

What ends up on our plates is unforgettable goat barbacoa, for sure, but considering all the dedication and passion that went into it makes the whole meal more of an experience that’s easy to appreciate.