Dried beef, hearty breakfasts and border-style wraps

Another core tradition of the norte is machaca—air-dried, then rehydrated and shredded beef, often sautéed with chiles, tomato and onion. It shows up in machaca con huevo, breakfast platters with beans and potatoes, and fillings for tacos or burritos. Northern states turned dried-meat preservation into an art, making machaca a symbol of desert resilience and ranch travel food.