>> title: Cachete, Slow Cooker
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: beef, cheek, mexican, braise, tacos, slow cooker, crock pot
>> counters: The Slow Cooker
>> dish: cachete
>> kit: Slow Cooker
>> aka: cachete, cabeza, taco de cabeza, tacos de cachete, beef cheek, barbacoa de cachete, cachetes de res, slow cooker beef cheeks, crockpot cachete
>> pairs-with: corn-tortillas, salsa-verde
>> servings: 6
>> time: 8 hr 20 min
>> slack: forgiving — this pot cannot boil hard enough to overshoot a cheek, so the only way to lose it is to stop early
>> washing-up: the slow cooker crock, the skillet
>> keeps: 4 days — the cheeks only soften further and the broth sets to a jelly you spoon straight back in

Three quarters of a cup of water where the oven takes two. The cheeks make their own by hour three.

>> step: sear 10 min in a skillet, both faces
Sear @beef cheeks{3%lb}(1.4 kg; trimmed of the tough silverskin) seasoned with @kosher salt{1%Tbs}, @coarse black pepper{1%tsp} in @vegetable oil{1%Tbs} in a #skillet{} for ~sear{10%min}, both faces.

>> step: braise on low, 8 hr
Slow cook @&(~1)seared cheeks{} with @white onion{1}(quartered), @garlic{6%cloves}, @bay leaves{2}, @dried Mexican oregano{1%tsp}, @whole cloves{3}, @cider vinegar{2%Tbs}, @avocado leaves{2}(optional, toasted), @water{3/4%cup}(180 mL) in a #slow cooker{} on low for ~slow cook{8%hr}, lid on.

>> step: shred coarse, salt
Shred @&(~1)braised cheeks{} coarsely with two forks, moistening them with their own liquor, and salt with @kosher salt{1%tsp}.