Picanha

Picanha

Picanha is a cut of beef first made popular in Brazil, and later adopted in Portugal.

In the United States, the cut is little known and often named top sirloin cap, rump cover, rump cap, or culotte (french). Instead, North American butchers generally divide this cut into other cuts like the rump, the round, and the loin.^[1] It consists of the and its fat cap.^[2] In recent years the cut has become popular in most of Latin America and has gained a reputation as a tasteful meat in the barbecue culture.

In Brazil[]

Brazilian beef cuts (picanha is number 8).

In Brazil the most prized cut of meat tends to be the picanha. There the traditional preparation is to skew the meat and cook it over a charcoal grill, with a minimal seasoning consisting of sea salt.^[3] The fat is retained until the steak has been cooked. In the United States, however, the fat tends to be removed before preparation unless requested otherwise by the customer.^[4]

In Colombia[]

Known everywhere as Punta de Anca, a popular tough meat available at most restaurants specially in the coffee paisa region. When properly aged it loses its toughness.

Etymology[]

The term "picanha" derives from the word "picana", which was a pole used by ranchers in the southern parts of Portugal and Spain, particularly in Alentejo, for herding cattle.^[5] In Brazil the word was imported by the gaucho cowboys of the South region and incorporated into the day-to-day of the countryside. It was common to hear them say among colleagues “picanha o bicho!”, 'prick the animal!'. The point where the animals were pricked is the point where the "picanha" cut is located, so the name stuck.

References[]

See also[]

• List of Brazilian dishes

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