Picanha Steak | Top Sirloin Caps

Easy Barbecue

If you’re not familiar with Picanha, just know that it is the caps of Top Sirloin and that it isn’t an overused muscle so, the meat tends to be super tender when it’s cooked. It’s also fairly inexpensive and the popularity of these cuts are growing because of the amazing results achieved from a simple barbecue or rotisserie. Brazilian restaurants like Rodizio’s and Tucanos have introduced this style of cooking and slapped the staple on this fine cut.

Preparing Picanha

Technically, you can cut up these caps and serve them any way you like. I tend to clean each cut, cutting away the silverskin and unwanted fat, and then slice the steak ,with the grain, into for pieces; all being equal in thickness not length. These steaks can then be seasoned and cooked as is or shanked onto shish kebab skewers for a rotisserie or easy flipping on the grill or under a broiler.

Grilling Top Sirloin Caps

The easiest way to cook these Picanha steaks on the grill is cook on low, with the lid down. I time it, flipping every five minutes for approximately 20 minutes total. It’s not a bad idea to monitor the internal temp with a meat thermometer, if you’re a bit inexperienced, especially if you like to “reverse sear”. In this video tutorial, I demonstrate grilling under bad circumstances to show you how to overcome hot spots and flare ups.

final results

Truthfully, these are the WORST looking picanha steaks I could’ve put on camera but, as you can see down below, the results were tremendous. So, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. These steaks were great and I even made tacos, the next day, with the leftovers.

Picanha Top sirloin Steak Ingredients:

2 Top Sirloin Caps

1 tbsp Garlic, minced
2 tbsp Olive Oil
Kosher Salt and Pepper

Blackened Seasoning, optional

Grilled Tomahawk Ribeye Steak

Tomahawk Steak label with the listed lbs and price next to a picture of a seasoned 3.28 lbs. Tomahawk steak.

The King of Steaks

If you’re a steak lover and you don’t know what a Tomahawk Ribeye Steak is, you’re in for a real treat because this thing is huge. The shape of it is where it gets its name. It literally looks just like an Indian Tomahawk throwing axe, only bigger. I’m talking about a bone in ribeye steak, cut from the center of a Prime Rib Roast, with an average of 3″ inches in thickness and approximately 3 lbs of meat, it feeds up to 4 people with ease.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you a fool proof method to cook this steak perfectly and exactly the way you prefer your steak. If you like your steak medium rare, this method works, if you like your beef well done, this method still works. It’s all about internal temperature and it’s very easy to regulate.

Fully grilled and cooked Tomahawk Ribeye Steak unwrapped in Aluminum foil.

Seasoning and Grilling

In this recipe, I’m breaking down the steps in their easiest form so, when it comes to the rub or the seasoning, I’m keeping it simple. All you need for this Tomahawk Ribeye Steak is a 50/50 ratio of Kosher salt and Black Pepper. I do add in some ground Rosemary but it really isn’t necessary if you want to leave it out. The other addition is just garlic butter that I make my self, on the grill.

Sliced and cut up Grilled Tomahawk Ribeye Steak on a cutting board.

As far as the grilling is concerned, I like to use the slow and low method but I put a good sear on both sides of the steak before I do. If you’re into the whole “Grill Marks” thing, with the diamonds look, I show you how to get those on there even with a mistake. Then, much like smoking ribs or a brisket, I like to wrap the Tomahawk Ribeye Steak(with the garlic butter), put it back on the grill over indirect heat, and cook it slow and low until it reaches my desired internal temperature. I do this by monitoring the heat with a meat thermometer.

Steak Chart for internal temperatures for rare or everything in-between well done steaks.

This method insures that everyone gets to cook their steak to there desired tastes. All you need to know now is the exact temperature your steak needs to reach to be done the way you like it.

My Tomahawk Ribeye Steak Instructions:

3.29 lbs Tomahawk Ribeye Steak
Seasoned with Kosher Salt, Black Pepper and Rosemary

All burners on Medium High Heat, lid down, 475° to 500° F
5 minutes per grill mark, turned once each side
10 minutes per side
20 minutes total then wrapped in Aluminum Foil with
1/2 stick Garlic butter: 1 tbsp Minced Garlic

Internal temp was 106° f

Only Front burner on low, indirect heat, 275° F
Flip half way to 125° F or what ever your goal temperature is, according to the chart.
Then remove from heat and rest 15 minutes. Once it has cooled down, you can cut into your Tomahawk Ribeye Steak and serve and/or eat.

Beef Steak Ranchero’s with Potatoes

Beef Ranchero’s with Potatoes in a frying pan.

The Best Beef Steak Ranchero’s

If you’re a fan of Mexican food and you’ve never tried this dish, you’re going to love it. Beef Steak Ranchero’s is so very versatile and it can be made mild or spicy. It can be served with or over rice, for breakfast with eggs, tacos, burritos, tortes, the skies the limit because you’ve got well seasoned and marinated beef, onions and tomatoes and, in this recipe, we’re adding potatoes.

2.37 lb. Raw packaged Beef Carne Taco Meat from the grocery store, $3.98 per lb.

What kind of Beef

As you read the title, “Beef Steak” Ranchero’s you were probably wondering what cuts to use. At my local grocery, they put together packages of beef for stews, tacos and burritos. It’s usually just the miscellaneous scraps from steaks and roasts that is too meaty to waste and throw away. Sometimes it’s even pre-seasoned but I like to get a few packages at a time that isn’t seasoned so, I can do whatever I want with it. One for the fridge and one for the freezer.

If you don’t have this available to you, I would recommend buying the cheapest cuts you can find because the meat tenderizes as it cooks so there’s no reason to get real spendy with this dish. Also, you’re going to need to get familiar with my Blackened Seasoning recipe because I use it on the meat.

Plate of Beef Steak Ranchero’s with rice, beans and a folded flour tortilla.

How to serve this Dish

As I mentioned above, there are so many different ways to eat Beef Steak Ranchero’s. The way I prepare it, in the video down below, I just serve it with beans and plain white rice. You can serve it with Spanish rice, if you prefer, but I find the Ranchero’s flavor has plenty of spice to blend in with white rice. Also, the addition of Potatoes in this recipe makes Ranchero’s great in burritos or along side a Chili Relleno. What ever you decide, you might want to consider a few classic Mexican additions because, you can never go wrong with a squeeze of lime, chopped green onion or chives and cilantro.

Beef Steak Ranchero’s with Potatoes Ingredients:

2 lbs Beef Stew Meat
2 tbsp Blackened Seasoning
2 tbsp Cumin, ground
1 tbsp Garlic, chopped
1 Jalapeno, chopped
1/2 cup Brisket Beef Fat, chopped
1 can of Tomato, diced

Kosher Salt & Pepper to taste (aproximately 1/2 tbsp each)

2 tbsp Beef Fat Rendered or vegetable Oil
1 Onion, chopped & sautéed
2 Potatoes, Pre-boiled then cubed & sautéed
1 tsp Oregano

Kosher Salt & Pepper to taste and consider adding lime, green onion and cilantro when serving.

Boiled the potatoes beforehand for 20 minutes then refrigerated overnight. Cook the diced potatoes and onions together but separately from the meat and tomatoes before combing. Follow the instructions in the video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make Beef Steak Ranchero’s with Potatoes. Also, this meal can be cooked in a slow cooker.