Brazilian Picanha Is the Best Steak to Grill - Chowhound

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If you want to conclude the summer BBQ season with a beefy bang, what’s the best steak to grill? Chances are good you’ve never even heard of it. Picanha offers the tenderness of a filet with the full-on flavor of a New York strip  at a more palatable price point.

But unless you’ve traveled south of the equator or gorged at a churrascaria, you’re probably unfamiliar with the coveted cut which is in short supply stateside.

We chewed the fat with Gabriel Llaurado, co-founder of Meat N’ Bone, the Miami-based online butcher shop that offers not just one, but five different types of picanha (including multiple wagyu options), to find out what makes the signature cut of Brazil (and a favorite throughout Latin America) so special, why it’s so hard to find in the U.S., and tips and tricks for grilling the steak to perfection.

Related Reading on CNET: Best Grills of 2020

What Is Picanha?  

Located at the rear of the cow, picanha is a proud member of the sirloin family.  There are two per animal (one on each side of the rump), each around two to four pounds.

Also referred to as coulotte steak or the top sirloin cap, it is often confused with tri-tip which lies just beneath it. Though similar in appearance, picanha is distinguished by an impressive layer of fat which renders into the otherwise lean meat like a hot stick of butter while it is cooked.

So why isn’t picanha readily available at your local supermarket? It all comes down to how you cut your cow. “In Latin America the cows are butchered horizontally,” says Llaurado, allowing for a clean cut of picanha. But the North American technique of vertical butchering isn’t as accommodating which is why the meat in that area often ends up in other cuts or part of a ground beef blend.

Related Reading: A Helpful Guide to 10 Common Steak Cuts and How to Cook Them 

How to Grill Picanha

Meat N’ Bone

While tracking down picanha may require some effort, cooking it is easy peasy. You can go full-Brazilian by cutting the beef into Pac-Man-shaped slabs and spit roasting them over an open flame. If grilling isn’t an option, simply throw it in the oven. Whatever path you choose, your bound to end up on the road to steak success. “I’ve never seen anyone mess up a picanha,” Llaurado attests. 

His preferred method is on the grill (ideally over coals but gas is great as well) keeping the steak intact: “The main benefit of cooking it whole is you will be able to trap the juices in.”

Related Reading: Grilling Tips, Techniques, Tricks, and Tools: Everything You Need to Know About BBQ

Don’t Trim the Fat Cap

A main reason why cooking picanha is virtually foolproof is that signature fat cap which provides a protective layer that distributes flavor while keeping the meat juicy. While you should feel free to give the bottom of your steak a trim, leave the top alone! “If you took the fat cap off picanha, it just becomes dry meat,” Llaurado warns.

Just Add Salt

Meat N’ Bone

Though rubs and marinades are staples in domestic BBQ, South Americans prefer to showcase the quality of their beef by seasoning it with nothing beyond a generous dose of salt. Pat down your picanha with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture then start sprinkling. “You don’t have to overdo it,” says Llaurado. “Just use your hands and rub the salt against [the meat].” 

The Sear

Crank up the grill to high heat to ensure a crispy crust on your picanha.

“We start with the fat cap up because it really allows you to monitor how you’re searing the steak,” advises Llaurado. “For first timers, it’s good because they know that they’re not going to burn the steak.” Let it sit for four minutes. Flip. Another four minutes. You’re golden.

Related Reading: Avoid These Grilling Mistakes for Perfect Meat Every Time

Apply Indirect Heat

For the remainder of the cook, move the picanha over to indirect heat for another 20-40 minutes depending on the size of the steak. This time it’s fat side up for the full duration—no need to flip. “You’re going to have that fat dripping inside the steak and that’s what’s going to give it a lot of flavor and a lot of juiciness,” says Llaurado.

Keep a thermometer handy to monitor the progress of your picanha. “It’s hard to know if it’s cooked inside,” Llaurado notes. “You’re going to have some grill marks. You’re going to have some burn going. If you have a thermometer you want to be at anywhere between 125 to 130 and that’s medium rare.”

Related Reading: When Should You Use the Lid on Your Grill?

Slice and Serve

Tatyana Sidyukova / Getty Images

Once your meat hits your desired temperature, Llaurado recommends two methods for serving picanha. You can simply remove the whole shebang from the grill, let it rest for 10 minutes to let those juices circulate, then start cutting against the grain. (Note, eating the fat cap, which at this point will be soft on the inside with a crisp exterior, is encouraged.)

Llaurado, whose wife happens to be Brazilian, prefers to go slice by slice straight from the grill.

“Traditional South American BBQ is about sharing and it’s about continuously cooking,” he says. “You’re not sitting down to have a meal. You’re always eating.”

Everything Else You Need to Know

Our Top Grilling Tips, Techniques, Tricks, and Tools for the Best BBQ Ever

Header image courtesy of Tatyana Sidyukova / Getty Images

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August 24, 2020 at 03:00PM
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Brazilian Picanha Is the Best Steak to Grill - Chowhound

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