Brazilian Picanha BBQ

Picanha BBQ is one of the prime cuts in the Brazilian Churrasco, a selection of barbecued beef over an open fire. It is a very tender cut of beef, covered by a large layer of fat that gives the meat an exceptional taste.

Jump to:

• Picanha in Brazil
• Marinating the meat
• The barbecue
• The charcoal
• Barbecuing the Picanha
• What to serve with Picanha
• Where do you buy Picanha
• Other cuts of meat for the barbecue
• 📋Brazilian Picanha BBQ

Picanha is located at the top of the leg just before the tail in English called Rump cover. 

It is a muscle that hardly moves; therefore, it is very tender.

In some breeds, this cut is covered by a large layer of fat; in the picture below is the Picanha from the Aberdeen Angus breed.

The fat melts while cooking, giving a fantastic flavor to the meat.

If you want to find out more about what cuts of beef are good for barbecuing, you can read the article: Cuts of Beef for Barbecuing (with names also in French and Italian)

Rump cover, Rumpsteak (Eng.), Rumsteak (Fr.), Scamone (It.), Picanha (Pg)[/caption]

For more beef recipes you can check Roastbeef, Daube Provencal, Braciolette, and veal Milanese.

Picanha in Brazil

My husband Robert was the barbecue expert and learned how to cook the Picanha during our trips to Brasil, and this post is dedicated to him.

At restaurants specializing in Brasilian Churrascaria, the Picanha is cut into slices with the fat on top of each slice.

The slice was then folded in a U shape with the fat on the outer side and inserted into the skewer in the middle through the fat.

The restaurant would have a large fire to cook those long skewers, so for us, it was easier to cook them directly on the fire without the skewer.

Marinating the meat

Robert used a straightforward method to marinate the meat, enhancing the flavor without overpowering it.

We prefer medium-rare meat, so he would cut the meat into thick slices that would not easily overcook in the center.

Depending on the quantity of meat, Robert marinated it with:
• 1 or 2 tablespoon of coarse salt
• 2 spoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon herbs Provencal
• pepper

He would then massage the meat for about 30 seconds to ensure it absorbed the seasoning.

The barbecue

When we bought our villa, a ‘proper’ barbecue was already installed on the veranda, a solid barbecue with a built-in chimney and large metal doors.

One addition we made was to add a custom-built height adjuster for the grill over the fire, allowing us to regulate the intensity of the heat.

The charcoal

It is essential to choose the right charcoal.

Some burn very quickly, so you will have to add more charcoal while cooking, disturbing the intensity of the heat.

There are also some cheap brands that spark, and they can be pretty dangerous.

We always buy a “Restaurant” quality charcoal.

When we have aromatic cuttings from the garden, such as rosemary, laurel, oranges, and lemon branches, we mix them with charcoal to add flavor.

Before putting them in the fire, we first steep them in water for 30 minutes and drain them well. 

They add a subtle smoky flavor to the meat.

Barbecuing the Picanha

It is not recommended to take the meat directly from the fridge for barbecuing, rather it should be kept at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

Once the meat is cooking on the charcoal, it is best to turn it at regular intervals, and this will ensure that the meat is cooked correctly on both sides.

Once the Picanha is on the barbecue, be careful, as the large layer of fat will melt, triggering flames.

Depending on how you like your meat cooked i.e. rare, medium-rare, or well done, you will need to continually check the temperature of the meat so that it does not overcook – there is nothing worse than an overcooked steak!

Serving the meat

Before serving, the meat should rest for a few minutes, preferably covered with aluminum foil to retain the heat.

Once this has been done, we place the meat on a wooden board and cut it into slices, ensuring the juices are poured back over the meat.

And if you want to be original, serve the beef on a Gaucho Asado Picnic kit as they do in Argentina!

What to serve with Picanha

As side dishes to a barbecue, we like to serve fresh vegetarian side dishes Seasoned in a simple way to the flavor of the meat is not overpowered.

Here is what we do:

• roasted ratatouille
• Giambotta vegetable stew
• roasted peppers with garlic and basil
• Tabbouleh
• potato salad with homemade mayonnaise
• Greek salad
• easy baked ratatouille
• wild mushrooms chanterelle with potatoes
• easy camping meals for family

Where do you buy Picanha

Picanha is a very special cut of meat, and it is not easy to find in a regular supermarket.

However, as it is becoming more popular is getting easier to find. Ask your butcher or look for it in supermarkets.

Here in the Riviera, you can find it at Catering in Ventimiglia, but ask before you take the long ride.

Other cuts of meat for the barbecue

Robert marinated the same way also the lamb, ribs and Tomahawk, named after its shape resembling the Indian Tomahawk here in Europe.

In the USA it is called Boned in Rib Chop or Cowboy Steak.

However, he marinated the Flank Skirt with more pungent spices.

It is a less tender and more robust flavored piece of meat, so more pungent spices will enrich its flavor.

I recommend marinating for at least 1 hr before cooking it.

For the Fajita you can season it with:
• 2 cloves of garlic minced• 2 limes – the juice of the limes
• 2 jalapeño chilli
• 3 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon of cumin

In Brazil, the Flank steak is called Fraldinha and is also a popular cut used in the Brasilian Churrasco. it is typically seasoned with:

• ¼ cup (60 ml) of soya sauce
• ¼ cup (60 ml) of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoon of water
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• Pepper

If you are making this Picanha barbecue, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.