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Where Is Picanha on a Cow? Is Tri-Tip The Same as Picanha? Can you eat Picanha fat cap? What is The Best Way to Cook Picanha?
If you’ve visited a churrascaria or a Brazilian steak shop, for sure, you’ve had a bite of this delicious cut called picanha on the menu. If you haven’t tasted it yet, you’re missing out big time. What makes it a slice of delectable grilled meat? Picanha is a Brazilian delicacy cut from the butt of the cow, directly above a fat cap. In the United States, this is often called the cap rump or round. In the US, it is considered one of the best in top sirloin.
These steaks are often confused with a tri-tip sirloin, but they are different. Picanha is smaller and closer to the fat cap, which makes it more flavorful. Both meat cuts come from the same area, but they are slightly different in size. The smaller side is the picanha steak.
In the US, the smaller section is sometimes called the coulotte, top sirloin cap, or rump cap. The direct translation is closest to the name rump cap. This steak layer has less of a marble grain and is less flavorful. Since this part sits on a fat cap, it retains even more tenderness, especially when thrown on the grill mats. When cooking this steak, we recommend following a traditional North American recipe. It tastes better when it is done on the grill.
The layer of fat that the steak sits on top of makes the meat tender and juicy. Most butchers will leave this fat layer on the steak picanha when cooked to give it a better texture and taste. When it comes to steaks, the more fat on the cut, the more tender it will be. In Latin American countries, the fat on the steak is cooked and eaten with the rest of the meat. In the United States, some butchers will remove the fat.
From our experience, Picanha is best served with the fat cap included to retain the most flavor and marbling when cooked on the grill. A Brazilian grill recipe will sometimes recommend using a skewer to ensure that you don’t overcook it. The most popular recipe only requires minimal seasonings like salt and pepper. It is often served on a long skewer at Brazilian restaurants, but for home cooking, you can use small ones. These are the two basic seasonings that will bring out the best flavor of the top sirloin cap.