Picanha facts for kids
Picanha is a special cut of beef. It first became very popular in Brazil. Later, people in Portugal also started to love it.
In the United States, this cut is not as well known. It is often called top sirloin cap, rump cover, rump cap, or culotte. Butchers in North America usually divide this part of the cow into other cuts. These include the rump, the round, and the loin. Picanha includes a muscle called the biceps femoris and a layer of fat on top. In recent years, this cut has become popular in most of Latin America. It is now famous for being a very tasty meat, especially for barbecues.
Picanha in Brazil
In Brazil, picanha is often the most prized cut of meat. The traditional way to cook it there is to put the meat on a skewer. Then, it is cooked over a charcoal grill. They use very little seasoning, usually just sea salt. The fat layer is kept on the meat until it is fully cooked. This helps to keep the meat juicy and flavorful. In the United States, however, the fat is often removed before cooking. This happens unless the customer asks for it to stay on.
Where the Name Picanha Comes From
The exact origin of the word picanha is not fully known. It might come from the word picana. A picana was a long pole used by ranchers in southern Portugal and Spain. This was especially true in a region called Alentejo. Ranchers used these poles to herd cattle.
In Brazil, cowboys called gaúchos from the southern part of the country brought the word. They used it in their daily life in the countryside. It was common for them to say to each other, picanha o bicho! This means "prick the animal!" The spot where the animals were pricked was exactly where the picanha cut is found. So, the name stuck to this delicious cut of beef.
