Spit-Roasted Picanha with Chimichurri Sauce
Tender Brazilian-style picanha roast cooked on a spit and served with a fresh, tangy chimichurri sauce. This Brazilian-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs picanha beef roast, coarse sea salt, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 560 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs picanha beef roast
- 2 tbsp coarse sea salt
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your grill or oven to 375°F. Score the fat cap of the 2 lbs picanha beef roast in a diamond pattern and rub it all over with 2 tbsp coarse sea salt and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, prepare the chimichurri sauce by combining 1 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 4 minced garlic cloves, 3 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes in a bowl; stir well and let it sit to develop flavors.
- Step 3: Place the picanha on the grill or in the oven and cook for 40-45 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking and until the internal temperature reaches 130°F for medium-rare.
- Step 4: Remove the picanha from heat and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve sliced picanha drizzled generously with chimichurri sauce.








