Just recently, I came to learn about the fact that there are 16 different beef cuts according to the tradition of German butchers.
In comparison, Italian butchers make 19 different cuts of beef, and most interestingly, French butchers make a massive number of 29 cuts of beef.
Regardless of where you live, are you aware of the different cuts of meat, and do you know which cut is better than the rest in terms of taste, texture, or flavors?
What is coulotte steak?
Coulotte is just another cut of beef that is taken from the sirloin cap, a section that is considered to be most tender and most flavorful amongst all other parts of the cattle.
Also known as sirloin cap steak, coulotte is a Brazilian cut from the triangular muscle of the top sirloin butt, a section also known as the Bicep femoris.
Coulotte is one of three muscles that constitute the top sirloin section and is mostly around 2-inches in thickness.
It is recognized by the thin coating of fat covering one side of the cut.
This cut of steak comes with very little marbling but the thin layer of fat gives it flavors.
Coulotte is known to be one of the most tender and juicy steaks that is also not very expensive compared to other fancy cuts of meat.
Coulotte is one of the most underappreciated cuts of steak which is not very known and is not commonly used.
Contents
- 1 Where Is The Word Coulotte From?
- 2 Is Coulotte Steak Always Grilled?
- 3 What Is The Nutritional Value Of Coulotte Steak?
- 4 Is Picanha Another Name For Coulotte Steak?
- 5 Is Coulotte Commonly Known In The United States?
- 6 Where To Buy Coulotte Steak
- 7 How Are Coulotte Steaks Cut?
- 8 Final Thoughts
- 9 Other Popular Posts
Where Is The Word Coulotte From?
The history of the word coulotte is a little bit complex.
There is uncertainty about where this word is derived, but most people believe it is derived from the French.
There are two beliefs about the name itself:
1) According to one belief the word coulotte is linked to ulot’ which means cap and refers to the cap area of sirloin.
2) The other belief is that the word is derived from the French word ulus’ which means bottom and refers to the backside of the cow where the muscle is located.
Is Coulotte Steak Always Grilled?
Coulotte steak is considered to be one of the best steaks for grilling, however, it can also be sauteed and will taste delicious with fries.
Grilling the steak can actually prove to be a fun activity that is not only easy but would also cook into one of the most delicious steaks. Grilling coulotte requires seasoning which will add an extra rich flavor to the taste.
For seasoning coulotte, you should cover your steak with large grains of salt and pepper on both sides.
In addition to salt and pepper, you can add other herbs, such as basil, bay leaf, dry mustard powder, rosemary, or garlic, each of which has a flavor of its own and will make your steak more delicious full of flavors.
Coulotte just needs 4-5 minutes for each side to cook when you are grilling.
It is recommended to grill it at a high temperature which is high up to 400 degrees F.
However, you must not forget to rest it for 10 minutes after it has been grilled. Also, keep in mind that you do not need to flip it often and it will cook perfectly on its own.
What Is The Nutritional Value Of Coulotte Steak?
Coulotte steak is full of nutrition, with around 213 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 27 grams of protein in every 100 grams.
Please keep in mind that cooking this steak will only add to the number of calories. One of the most asked questions about any food is whether it is healthy or not.
In the case of coulotte steak, there is no definite answer to this as it entirely depends on what quantity you are consuming it and how have you cooked it.
However, coulotte can be fairly healthy if you have it in moderation and the nutrients do not exceed your daily requirements.
Coulotte can be excellent for those who are doing the keto diet as it is high in protein and fat. It is also a great addition to your diet if you are following the carnivore diet or paleo diet.
However, this type of steak can still be a great addition to your diet if you are not following any of these diet plans, as it can easily give you the required daily nutrients.
Although it is advised by nutritionists to consume it together with other healthy options of food such as vegetables and fruits to have a balanced mix of all nutrition.
Is Picanha Another Name For Coulotte Steak?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions about this type of steak and the simple answer to this question is yes!
Both coulotte steak and picanha are the same steak. In fact, you may be surprised to know that picanha is the Portuguese name for coulotte.
It is often called Brazilian picanha. An interesting fact about picanha or coulotte is that it was first made in Brazil and later it was adopted in Portuguese.
Is Coulotte Commonly Known In The United States?
Coulotte being a Brazilian cut is not as famous in the United States as in Brazil, as you might imagine.
Coulotte is just recently becoming popular in the US with the opening of Brazilian restaurants.
It is most commonly known as a rump cover or rump cap in the US. However, as we all know there are different breeds of cattle in the US, which is why the cut that is considered closest to coulotte is Top Sirloin Cap which comes with the fat cap.
One difference between Brazilian coulotte and US top sirloin cap is that in Brazil the fat is not removed from the cut of beef until it is cooked, whilst in the US the fat is always removed from the steak unless the customer asks the butcher to keep it.
Where To Buy Coulotte Steak
This type of steak is very affordable when we compare it to similar cuts of beef such as ribeye, however, it is not easy to find it in the US.
If you want to buy coulotte steak, then you can try the following options:
Local Butcher
Local butchers can be of great help if you have tried all other places and are unable to find this steak.
Butchers are experts at making custom cuts according to the demand of the customers.
Almost all butchers are familiar with the coulette cut and you will not have to explain further.
However, if the butcher is not familiar with the name, you can ask them to give you a sirloin cap cut that has fat.
Online Delivery
Online meat services are growing in the US day by day and these services work with local butchers to provide you diverse meat options.
Some of the online options are:
· Porter Road
· Crowd Cow
· Omaha Steaks
· Kansas City Steak Company
· Meat N’ Bone
Frozen Meat Suppliers
One of the most convenient options is frozen meat suppliers, but please keep in mind that they don’t have fresh meat, rather they have frozen meat, which is why they offer a wide range of meat cuts.
How Are Coulotte Steaks Cut?
Following are the steps used to cut coulotte steak:
Step 1: The first step to cut the steak is to turn the coulotte over so that the fat is facing the downside.
Now take a sharp knife and remove any silver skin or connective tissue attached to the steak.
Step 2: Once the silver skin and connective tissues are removed, turn over the coulotte again and cut it into steaks which are around 1.5 inches thick.
Please make sure to cut across the grain starting from the larger end.
If you want to trim the fat, you may do it at this stage according to your wish.
You should cut the meat in a way that you end up getting 2 steaks of 8 ounces each, 2 steaks of 6-ounce steak, and 2 steaks of 4 ounces each and you will also be left with a small piece of meat which can be used in stir fry.
Alternatively, you can grill this little wedge too and eat with other steaks.
Please note that if you do not like to have the fat covering the steak, you can always remove it by sliding the knife along the fat connected to the meat, and you will get a completely peeled piece of meat that is free from any kind of fat.
Once you have your desired steaks, you can cook them in a number of ways such as grill, pan-searing, or saute with vegetables.
Final Thoughts
So, what is coulotte steak?
In the end, I would say that coulotte steak is one of the tastiest and tender steak cuts but it is underestimated.
It is affordable, and it is very easy to make and can be made in a number of ways.
You may find it difficult to find this steak but after you will eat it, you would definitely want to try it again and again.