Salpicón de Barbacoa (Shredded Beef Salad with Lime and Oregano)
Cool shredded beef tossed with crisp lettuce, radish, avocado and pickled onion in a sharp lime and oregano dressing.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Barbacoa beef. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.36 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Take your ready made barbacoa beef (see the base recipe) out of the fridge 20 minutes before you start so it is not fridge cold. Pull it into fine shreds and remove any excess sauce and fat.
- 2
Whisk the olive oil, lime juice, oregano and a good pinch of salt in a large bowl.
- 3
Add the beef, jalapeño, tomatoes and half the coriander to the dressing and toss well. Leave for 5 minutes so the beef absorbs the dressing.
5 min - 4
Arrange the lettuce and radishes on a platter or in 4 bowls. Spoon the dressed beef over the top.
- 5
Scatter with the avocado, your ready made pickled red onions (see the base recipe) and the remaining coriander, and serve straight away.
Tips
- Salpicón is traditionally served cold or at room temperature, so it is a good use for leftover barbacoa.
- Add the avocado at the end, so it keeps its colour and shape.
- Serve with tostadas or warm corn tortillas for scooping.
Storing and freezing
Eat on the day. The dressed beef (without avocado or lettuce) keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Add fresh salad leaves and avocado when serving.
Questions
What is salpicón?
Salpicón is a cold Mexican salad of shredded meat, usually beef, dressed with lime, onion, chilli, herbs and often vinegar. It is served on its own or on tostadas.
Can I serve it hot?
You can. Warm the beef first and toss it with the dressing, but the cold version is more traditional and perfect for hot days.
Is it low carb?
The ingredients contain no flour, grain, rice or potato, so it is a low carb dish, and it is gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free too.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Tostadas de Camarón y Pepino (Prawn and Cucumber Tostadas)
DFEFNFThree Bean Salad with Pickled Red Onions and Parsley
GFDFEFCochinita Pibil (Yucatan Slow Roast Pork)
DFEFNFThit Heo Quay (Vietnamese Crispy Roast Pork Belly)
DFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.