Watch the picanha fat cap over the coals. It turns from white to golden, it drips, it flares, and every drop bastes the meat underneath. By the time you slice it, the edges are crisp and salty and the center is pink and juicy. This is why Brazil built a whole barbecue culture around one cut.
Picanha gets its tenderness and flavor from its thick natural fat cap rather than from marbling inside the meat. Cooked right, that cap melts into the beef and gives you a juicy, beefy steak with an edge that tastes like the best part of a grill.
Where Our Picanha Comes From
Picanha is the cap muscle that sits on top of the rump, toward the back of the calf. It is a small, prized cut, only a little per animal, and we keep its full fat cap on because that is where the magic happens.
How to Cook Picanha
Score the fat cap in a crosshatch without cutting into the meat and season with coarse salt only. For the Brazilian way, cut it into thick slices along the grain, fold each slice into a C shape with the fat on the outside, skewer them and grill over charcoal. Or cook it whole, fat side down first, then turn and finish over medium heat. Always slice it against the grain to serve.
Why Farm House Picanha
Our Picanha comes from Balady calves naturally raised on our own farm for about 400 days with zero hormones and zero chemicals. Kandouz age gives a fat cap that renders clean and sweet. Each piece is trimmed and vacuum packed by our team with no bare hand contact.
If your weekend plans include charcoal and friends, this is the cut that makes you the host everyone talks about.
Brazilian style grill night? Add flat iron steak that cooks in minutes, flank steak for marinated slices and beef burger patties for the burger fans.
Picanha FAQ
Should I remove the fat cap before cooking?
No. The fat cap is the reason Picanha is so juicy. Score it, cook it, and trim it on your plate if you prefer.
Is Picanha good in a pan?
Yes. Start it fat side down to render the cap, then sear the meat side and finish over medium heat.
What is Picanha called in Arabic?
Picanha is also known as:
بيكانيا، بيكانها، ستيك بيكانيا، بيكانيا بلدي بالدهنة
يعني إيه بيكانيا؟
البيكانيا قطعية من أعلى الكولاتة بطبقة دهن طبيعية من فوق، بتسيح وهي بتتشوي وتخلي اللحمة جوسي جدًا. مشهورة في الشوي البرازيلي على الفحم.
