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Three skewered picanha steaks grilling over charcoal on a round kettle grill, with visible flames and rich sear marks on the meat.
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Grilled Brazilian-Style Picanha Steak

This juicy, tender Brazilian-style picanha steak is seasoned simply, then cooked over hot coals, and finished with a smoky chimichurri sauce.
Course Main Course
Cuisine South American
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 653kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 lb Whole beef top sirloin cap (picanha)
  • ¼ cup olive oil

Steak seasoning

  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp pepper
  • 2 tsp granulated garlic
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

Smoked Chimichurri

  • 1 lime halved
  • 3 green onion stalks
  • 2 shallots
  • 1 chili pepper minced
  • 1 habanero minced, (optional for heat)
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
  • 1 bunch Italian parsley finely chopped
  • 1 bunch cilantro finely chopped
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp water
  • pinch salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Prepare your charcoal by lighting and reducing it down to a whiter coal. Place the charcoal on one side of your grill.
  • Trim off any hanging pieces of membrane or fat from both sides of the meat. Cut the picanha into multiple steaks. I like to cut the picanha into three even steaks and keep the corner piece for a quick pitmaster's snack!
  • Rub the steaks all over with olive oil and season all over with the steak seasoning.
  • Place the picanha streaks on one thick skewer or two thin skewers. Make sure the fat caps are all facing the same direction.
  • Place the picanha directly over the coals and grill for two minutes on each side.
  • Then, place on the opposite side of the charcoal and cook an additional 8-10 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature is 115°F.
  • Finally, sear them directly over coals for an additional one minute on each side or until the internal temperature is 130°F. Make sure to sear the fat cap well.
  • Remove from the grill and rest for 5-10 minutes.

Steak seasoning

  • Combine the salt, pepper, granulated garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika in a small bowl or lidded jar.

For the Smoked Chimichurri

  • Grill the green onions, lime, and shallots, just enough to produce a decent char. When cool enough, mince the onions finely.
  • Add the juice of the lime, and all the remaining ingredients to a jar and combine. Then add one small piece of charcoal from the grill. Close the jar and let it sit while you grill the picanha. Remove the piece of charcoal before mixing and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 653kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 69g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 962mg | Potassium: 1269mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1256IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 6mg
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