How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (2024)

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Get the best coulotte steak recipe for cast iron searing or grilling this beef cut. Make super tender, juicy “picanha steak”, with complete details on exactly what is coulotte steak and how to cook it. Let’s go!

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (1)

Table of Contents

Why it’s the best coulotte steak recipe in the world

  • Fool-proof! Use my tried and true tips and a meat thermometer.
  • Simple seasoning. You need little more than salt and pepper.
  • See how to cast iron sear coulotte steak. Step by step photos and video are included in this Sip Bite Go cooking demonstration.
  • Learn to grill it. The marbling makes coulotte steaks great for grilling.
  • Huge flavor!! HUGE!! Simple, but juicy and tender and so freakin’ tasty.
How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (2)

What is coulotte steak?

It is a beef cut with plenty of marbling that is delicious to stir fry, make steak sandwiches or tacos with, or just eat as is with some jalapeno ranch dressing and tasty potato steak sides.

Also see this recipe for grilled sirloin steak with a teriyaki steak marinade

Wondering where to buy coulotte steaks?

Shop online butchers and meat delivery companies, or your local supermarket, and keep your eyes peeled for these names…

  • Top sirloin cap steak
  • Picanha steak
  • Fat cap
  • Sirloin primal cut
  • Rump cap (or some other reference to sirloin butt and bottom)

See how to smoke sirloin steak

Do you always find a coulotte steak fat cap?

Although it’s a lean cut of steak from the beef loin, you’ll almost always find it cut with a thin layer of fat covering one side of the cut of beef. In this recipe, you’ll learn how to leave the fat cap intact and maximize the juicy flavor it provides by scoring the fat cap before searing or grilling it.

Ingredients for this recipe

Start with my simple ingredients…

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (3)
  • For the simple seasoning: salt, black pepper, garlic powder
  • 1 (8oz) coulotte steak (aka top sirloin cap roast)
  • Olive oil
How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (4)

How to cook coulotte steak

This recipe is fast and easy. Let’s start with directions for cooking coulotte steak in a cast iron pan on the stove…

Step 1. Make the coulotte steak seasoning. In a small mixing bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to make the dry rub.

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (5)

Step 2. Score the coulotte fat cap. Score fat cap in ½ inch perpendicular lines. See Sip Bite Go recipe video for coulotte steak for an example.

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (6)

Step 3. Season coulotte steak. Generously sprinkle steak seasoning all over the beef cut.

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Step 4. Sear coulotte steak. Heat a cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Add olive oil and once it becomes hot and shiny and begins to smoke, add the steak, fat side down is preferable (photo A) although we didn’t do that in this photo – whoops! Sear steak for about 2-3 minutes until a brown crust forms on the side of the beef touching the pan.

Flip the steak and sear the other side for about 2-3 minutes (photo B) until the steak forms a brown crust. Quickly sear the edges (using tongs to hold the steak) for 10-20 seconds (photo C) each to brown them, but not longer so the steak doesn’t overcook.

Step 5. Use a meat thermometer to check the steak temperature. The steak in the Sip Bite go recipe was cooked to medium rare, almost medium at 135°F-140°F.

If steak has not yet reached your desired steak temperature, keep flipping it every 20-30 seconds until it reaches temperature (photo D).

Note: I recommend taking steak off the heat a little before the desired steak temp has been reached, since it continues cooking off of the heat.

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Step 6. Rest steak on a cutting board for 10 minutes, then serve. If you’re feeling fancy, add on some tasty compound butter for steak with garlic and herbs to make your taste buds explode. Or just add on a tablespoon of butter to melt and add juicy flavor.

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How about something to serve on the side? These sauteed peppers and onions are an easy side dish for steak recipes.

Want to grill coulotte steak?

Use the same method above, but brush or spray some cooking spray on the grill before adding the steak. Cook steak on high heat (about 500°F). Use the same method of cooking a few minutes on each side, then flipping the steak until it reaches its desired temperature.

Also see these easy steak recipes for smoked tri tip and perfectly roasted tri tip in the oven.

Temperature chart for steak searing or grilling

Here are the cooking temperatures chart for steaks you grill or sear in a cast iron pan. The photos on Sip Bite Go demonstrate cooking medium rare or medium coulotte steak around 135 °F – 140 °F.

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (10)
  • Rare steak (125-130°F) is still red inside.
  • Medium rare steak (130-140°F) is red to pink inside.
  • Medium steak (140-150°F) is mostly pink.
  • Medium well steak (150-160°F) has just a slight bit of pink inside.
  • Well cooked steak (160°F) has no red or pink inside.

FAQs for making coulotte steak for beginners

Is coulotte steak easy to prepare?

Super easy! My recipe walks you through all the fine details, but coulotte steak is easy to prepare and is delicious when cooked on cast iron or on a grill.

Is Picanha steak the same as coulotte?

Yes! Picanha is simply the Portuguese name for this steak. Coulotte steak is hugely popular in Portuguese-speaking Brazil, where they are referred to as Picanha.

Where do coulotte steaks come from?

The coulotte steak is a top cap boneless steak. That’s the triangular shaped cap cut from the top sirloin, on the hindquarter section of the cow.

What can I serve with coulotte steak?

Coulotte steak can go well with almost anything—serve it up with your favorite starch and a yummy vegetable side! Start the meal with a simple tomato cucumber salad or strawberry salad. Then pair the main steak dinner entree with an easy pasta side dish or potato side dish for steak, like my sous vide fingerling potatoes.

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (11)

This medium rare coulotte steak was sliced thin for philly cheese steak pizza.

New recipes and foodie guides….

  • Tri tip (it’s so good!)
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  • Coulotte steak
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Grill and smoker recipes…

  • Grilled chicken wings
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Meat thermometer recommendations

Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly.

On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

  1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
  2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill.

It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature.

How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

Are you a foodie, too?

Hey home chefs, I want to see photos of your delicious steak dinners! Find me on Instagram @sipbitego to tag me and connect.

Next, check out how to make this tasty sirloin steak in oven.

Want to make restaurant-style food at home? I teach you how here on Sip Bite Go and with in-depth video guides on the Sip Bite Go channel.

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (12)

How To Cook Coulotte Steak Recipe | Sip Bite Go

Get the best coulotte steak recipe for cast iron searing or grilling this beef cut. Make super tender, juicy “picanha steak”, with complete details on exactly what is coulotte steak and how to cook it. Let’s go!

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 14 minutes minutes

Finish Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 29 minutes minutes

Servings: 1

Calories: 39kcal

Author: Jenna Passaro

Ingredients

  • 1 (8oz) coulotte steak (aka top sirloin cap roast)
  • 1 tsp olive oil

For the coulotte steak seasoning

  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Make the coulotte steak seasoning. In a small mixing bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to make the dry rub.

  • Score the coulotte fat cap. Score fat cap in ½ inch perpendicular lines. See Sip Bite Go recipe video for coulotte steak for an example.

  • Season coulotte steak. Generously sprinkle steak seasoning all over beef cut.

  • Sear coulotte steak. Heat a cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Add olive oil and once it becomes hot and shiny and begins to smoke, add the steak, fat side down. Sear steak about 2-3 minutes until a brown crust forms on the side of the beef touching the pan. Flip the steak and sear the other side for about 2-3 minutes until steak forms a brown crust. Quickly sear the edges (using tongs to hold the steak) for 10-20 seconds each to brown them, but not longer so the steak doesn’t overcook.

  • Use a meat thermometer to check the steak temperature. The steak in the Sip Bite go recipe was cooked to medium rare, almost medium at 135°F-140°F. If steak has not yet reached your desired steak temperature, keep flipping it every 20-30 seconds until it reaches temperature. (I recommend to take it off the heat a little before the desired steak temp has been reached, since it continues cooking off of the heat).

  • Rest steak on a cutting board for 10 minutes, then serve. You can add 1 tbsp butter, or compound butter as seen on Sip Bite Go, on top of steak at this time to melt and add juicy flavor.

How to grill coulotte steak

  • Use the same method above, but brush or spray some cooking spray on the grill before adding the steak. Cook steak on high heat (about 500°F). Use the same method of cooking a few minutes on each side, then flipping the steak until it reaches its desired temperature.

Video

Notes

Temperature chart for steaks

  • Rare steak (125-130°F) is still red inside.
  • Medium rare steak (130-140°F) is red to pink inside.
  • Medium steak (140-150°F) is mostly pink.
  • Medium well steak (150-160°F) has just a slight bit of pink inside.
  • Well cooked steak (160°F) has no red or pink inside.

See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/coulotte-steak

See the recipe video for coulotte steak

Nutrition

Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1163mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!

How To Cook Coulotte Steak (Best Recipe Grill OR Sear) (2024)

FAQs

How to grill coulotte steak on grill? ›

Instructions
  1. Set your grill to high heat. ...
  2. Quickly flip to the other side for another minute so that it browns evenly. ...
  3. Cook the steak slowly until it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F, about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the steak from the grill and let it rest under tinfoil for 3-5 minutes.

How to grill picanha steak on a grill? ›

Grill the strips of picanha for 4-5 minutes per side or until they reach your desired internal temperature. Some of the larger steaks will take longer, and some of the smaller steaks will cook faster, so stay vigilant. As each piece reaches temp, take it off the grill and let rest for 10 minutes.

How to cook culotte? ›

Place roast fat-side down in a cast iron pan on range top. Turn heat to medium high, searing and rendering fat for 5 minutes. After a crust is formed, flip roast over and transfer pan to oven. Roast 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 120°F for medium rare.

What temperature is coulotte steak done? ›

Coulotte Steak Internal Temperatures

For medium, aim for 135-145 °F internally. For medium-well, aim for 145-155 °F internally. For well-done, aim for 155-165 °F internally.

Is coulotte steak tough? ›

The Coulotte Steak

wide, 4 in. long, and ½ in. thick), the coulotte is quite tender and boasts a bold amount of flavor, but is also pretty lean. The average 4 oz serving of coulotte steak has about 210 calories, 24 grams of protein, and only 6 grams of fat.

What temperature do you cook picanha on a gas grill? ›

Score the fat cap in a crisscross pattern to allow it to render and crisp up during cooking. Season the meat generously with salt and any desired spices or marinades. What is the best temperature to cook picanha on a gas grill? Preheat your gas grill to medium-high heat, around 450°F (230°C).

How to grill picanha on a gas grill? ›

Place the Picanha fat side down over the hottest part of the grill (about 250°F) and sear for 5–7 minutes. Turn and sear an additional 3–4 minutes. Be prepared for flare-ups as the fat softens and soaks into the meat and the grill. Remove the Picanha and slice into 3 or 4 sections with a sharp knife.

What is the secret to grilling a tender steak? ›

The trick for perfect grilled steak is to create two heat zones on your grill – one side will be screaming hot with a high flame, while the second side will be unlit and cooler.

Should you press steak when grilling? ›

It can when the meat is raw by making it thinner but once you've achieved the ideal thinness, pressing doesn't accelerate cooking. It does force fat and moisture out of the meat though. Fat and moisture are what make your burger and steak delicious, so pressing isn't a good thing.

Is coulotte a good steak? ›

Flavor and Texture of Coulotte Steak

The coulotte steak is leaner than some other cuts of beef, which can make it a good option for anyone counting calories. But even with this taken into consideration, you'll find that it has all of the flavor you expect from a sirloin cut. You won't sacrifice in tenderness, either.

What is another name for coulotte steak? ›

It's known as the "rump cap" in the United States, the "coulotte" in France, and even "top sirloin cap" in some other parts of the world. But in Brazil, its place of origin and where it is most celebrated, it is affectionately known as Picanha.

What is the difference between picanha and culotte? ›

In conclusion the Picahan and Coulotte are the same. cut of beef and the tri tip is a completely different cut. of beef coming from two different areas of the beef.

What is the cap on coulotte steak? ›

Beef Coulotte is a lesser-known and somewhat underappreciated cut from the cap muscle. It's one of three muscles that make up the top sirloin butt. It is often also referred to as the top sirloin cap. You can cut it into steaks with the fat cap on, or you can peel it and steak it with the fat cap off.

What does coulotte steak taste like? ›

Coulotte Steak | Lean. With plenty of marbling, this is a juicy and savory steak.

What is the texture of coulotte steak? ›

Share: Our Coulotte Steak, also known as Picanha or Top Sirloin Cap Steak, is a premium boneless cut of beef that boasts beautiful marbling. Despite being relatively lean, this cut remains tender and full of flavor thanks to its abundant marbling.

How long to grill thick steak on gas grill? ›

SIRLOIN STRIP STEAKS, RIBEYE STEAKS & PORTERHOUSE STEAKS
ThicknessRare 110 to 120 FMedium 130 to 140 F
1.25"4.5 minutes EACH SIDE6.5 minutes EACH SIDE
1.5"5 minutes EACH SIDE7 minutes EACH SIDE
1.75"5.5 minutes EACH SIDE7.5 minutes EACH SIDE
2"6 minutes EACH SIDE8 minutes EACH SIDE
1 more row

How hot to grill steak on grill? ›

The best temperature for steaks is 450°F to 500°F. 4. Put your steaks on the grill, close the lid, and set your timer for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your steak. (Refer to our grill guide for more accurate times.)

Is coulotte the same as picanha? ›

Along with sirloin cap, it's also known as culotte, fat cap or rump cap. Visit a churrascaria—one of those famous Brazilian steakhouses—and they call it picanha. No matter what name you use, it is one delicious steak.

How do you grill a thick steak on the grill? ›

Heat the grill to medium-high heat, between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the steak from the marinade and and it to the hot grill. For a perfect medium rare steak, grill a 1 inch thick steak for 4-5 minutes per side. For a steak that is 1 1/2 inches thick, add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time per side.

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