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Espetada madeirense
Espetada madeirense: garlic and bay beef skewers, grilled over hot coals
In Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, on the hillsides above Funchal, the September wine harvest ends with espetada: big cubes of beef rubbed with garlic, salt and crushed bay, threaded onto bay branches and roasted over a wood fire. Restaurants hang the long skewers from hooks above the table, so everyone slides off their own pieces. It is eaten with bolo do caco, milho frito and a salad. Chef's tip: cut the beef into large 4 cm cubes, which stay juicy in the middle while the outside chars.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (1)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Pound 6 garlic cloves, 2 tsp coarse sea salt and 6 of the 6 bay leaves leaves (crumbled) in a mortar to a rough paste. Stir in 2 tbsp olive oil and ½ tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Rub the paste all over 2 ¼ lb beef rump or sirloin, cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or up to 12 hours.
120 minStep 3: Light a charcoal grill and wait until the coals are covered with grey ash, or heat a griddle pan until smoking. Take the beef out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking.
20 minStep 4: Thread the beef onto 4 metal skewers or straight bay branches, tucking the remaining 4 bay leaves leaves between the pieces. Don't pack them tightly, or the sides won't brown.
Step 5: Grill for 10–14 minutes, turning every 3 minutes, until well charred outside. The meat should feel springy when pressed for medium-rare (131°F inside) and firmer for medium (140°F); cook it longer if you like it well done. A common mistake is putting it on lukewarm coals: the beef stews and turns grey instead of searing.
14 minStep 6: Rest the skewers for 5 minutes and serve them hanging or laid on the table, with bolo do caco to catch the juices.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 410 kcal
- Protein
- 52 g
- Carbs
- 1 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does espetada madeirense take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of bay leaves?
- Leave it out, or a pinch of dried thyme (it's a background flavour).
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