This Portuguese Beef Skewers recipe (also known as Espetada Madeira or Espetadas Madeira) is a traditional Portuguese recipe you will love cooking on a grill! It is one of the best grilling recipes ever, especially for Labor Day.
Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, are grilled to perfection on skewers with bay leaves. This is the most flavorful steak kebabs recipe you will ever try!
I promise you, you are going to love this traditional Portuguese food. It is a family-favorite of mine and so flavorful. With beautifully marbled strip steaks seasoned and grilled to the perfect medium-rare, what’s not to love?
This post is sponsored by the Certified Angus Beef ® brand in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.
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Best Grilled Beef Kebabs Ever
I look forward to grilling recipes every year. My family always gets the hint and starts asking for their favorites when I fire up the grill! I grill up everything from Grilled Lamb Chops and Grilled Crab Legs to grilled beef recipes.
The recipe my family requests the most is always this Espetadas Madeira, or Portuguese Beef Skewers recipe.
If you have ever had Portuguese recipes like these beef kebabs or Rissóis de Camarão, then you know it is one of the most flavorful cuisines ever. And of course, grilled Portuguese recipes are the best! Especially these grilled beef kebabs.
What makes this Espetada Madeira recipe stand out even more is the use of Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks. The beautiful marbling and flavor of these steaks is exceptional. You can see AND taste the difference!
What is Espetada?
Espetada is the Portuguese term for food you cook on skewers, such as these steak kebabs, and for the cooking method itself. Espetadas Madeira is a traditional Portuguese recipe originating from the island of Madeira.
This is a popular recipe for serving at parties, especially outdoor gatherings like picnics. It’s perfect for all your favorite BBQ side dishes! You can use other proteins to make espetada, such as seafood or pork, but the traditional method uses beef.
This beef espetada recipe consists of beautiful chunks of strip steak cooked with salt, pepper, and garlic powder on a skewer with bay leaves. It’s grilled over high heat for a beautiful char and red, juicy center.
Portuguese Beef Skewers Ingredients
- 3 Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- About 20 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- Olive oil for brushing on skewers (about 1 teaspoon each skewer)
Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks take this steak skewers recipe over the top. You can find these gorgeous steaks easily at local retailers all over the U.S.!
Find your nearest Certified Angus Beef® brand retailer here: Where to Buy. You can even order their beef online to have it directly shipped to your home.
Get Ready for Grilling Season with the Steakholder Rewards™ Program
I’m so excited to share with you that Certified Angus Beef® brand has a new Steakholder Rewards™ program!
You can sign up to complete activities, like filling out a profile and completing surveys, to earn points. Then, you can use the points you earn to claim rewards like merchandise and exclusive content from the brand.
If you’re like me, and only the best beef will do, then you definitely need to sign up for Certified Angus Beef® brand’s Steakholder Rewards™ program. You even earn points for qualifying purchases of their beef, so it’s a win-win!
How to Make Espetadas Madeira
- Cut 3 Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks into cubes. Do this by first cutting long-ways down the middle, and then in horizontal slices to divide the steak into chunks.
- Combine 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon sea salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a bowl.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture all over the cubed steak on all four sides. Pat it down to press the seasoning into the steak.
- Take a skewer and layer a chunk of steak, then a bay leaf, in that order, until all of your meat is skewered with bay leaves between each piece of steak.
- Brush about 1 tsp. olive oil onto each skewer to prevent sticking when you grill them.
- Grill the skewers over High heat with the lid closed for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes is up, rotate the skewer to grill each side for 2 minutes. Watch closely, they cook fast! - Once the skewers reach an internal temperature of 135°F (a perfect medium-rare) or your desired degree of doneness*, they are safe to remove from the grill. Serve, and enjoy!
Steak Desired Degree of Doneness
I prefer to cook my steak kebabs to 135°F, or a perfect medium-rare, but if you would prefer them to be cooked a bit more, you can easily find your desired degree of doneness using this chart:
- Rare: 125°F
- Medium rare: 135°F
- Medium: 145°F
- Medium well: 150°F
- Well done: 160°F
Learn more about degrees of doneness for roasting, grilling, braising, and broiling from Certified Angus Beef® brand: Degree of Doneness.
Side Dishes for Steak Beef Skewers
Espetadas Madeira are perfect for serving with other foods on the grill, like my favorite Grilled Potatoes Recipe. These grilled potatoes use the same seasoning mixture as the beef skewers, so you can prepare it all at the same time using the same ingredients!
I also love to serve these steak kebabs and potatoes with a side of Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad. The bright, fresh flavors of the salad pair perfectly with the deep flavor of the beef espetada and potatoes.
Another perfect choice is my favorite Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad. I guarantee you will love this pasta salad recipe! It’s lemony fresh and so delicious. Or, try serving the beef kebabs over a bed of creamy Instant Pot Risotto.
Don’t forget the drinks! My Mimosa Recipe and Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe can both be made kid-friendly, so everyone in the family can enjoy them. A nice cold glass of Moscato Sangria is perfect for the adults, too.
More of the Best Grilling Recipes
- Grilled Picanha Steak (Sirloin Cap)
- Grilled Pork Butt Recipe
- Elotes Mexicanos (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)
- Grilled Chuck Steak Recipe
- Foil Pack Potatoes / Foil Pack Steak / Foil Pack Shrimp
- Grilled Beef Tenderloin Recipe
Did you try these beef skewers? This is one of my favorite traditional Portuguese recipes of all time. I am so proud of it, I know you’ll love it! Let me know with a comment and a rating below.
What would you like to see me grill next? Get in touch and let me know!
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📋 Recipe
Portuguese Beef Skewers (Espetada Madeira)
🥘 Ingredients
- 3 Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 20 bay leaves (about 20)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil for brushing on skewers, about 1 teaspoon each
🔪 Instructions
- Cut 3 Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks into cubes. Do this by first cutting long-ways down the middle, and then in horizontal slices to divide the steak into chunks.
- Combine 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon sea salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a bowl.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture all over the cubed steak on all four sides. Pat it down to press the seasoning into the steak.
- Take a skewer and layer a chunk of steak, then a bay leaf, in that order, until all of your meat is skewered with bay leaves between each piece of steak.
- Brush about 1 tsp. olive oil onto each skewer to prevent sticking when you grill them.
- Grill the skewers over High heat with the lid closed for 2 minutes.After 2 minutes is up, rotate the skewer to grill each side for 2 minutes. Watch closely, they cook fast!
- Once the skewers reach an internal temperature of 135°F (a perfect medium-rare) or your desired degree of doneness*, they are safe to remove from the grill. Serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Keep a close eye on the skewers as they cook. They cook quickly. Rotate them to cook on each side for 2 minutes each side, and this will give you a perfect medium-rare.
- Degrees of doneness:
- Rare: 125°F
- Medium rare: 135°F
- Medium: 145°F
- Medium well: 150°F
- Well done: 160°F
- Serve with grilled potatoes and tomato cucumber salad for the perfect combination!
unicornsinthekitchen says
I was looking for a recipe like this, thank you for sharing!
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much! Please let us know what you think!
Jayne says
Love the favors in the recipes. Everyone enjoyed this meal.
Em Beitel says
That is awesome, Jayne! Thank you so much for your comment!
Krissy Allori says
I love kabobs. I’m so glad BBQ season is right around the corner. I’m going to save this recipe and make this for sure. Thanks!
Em Beitel says
Thank you, Krissy! Please let us know what you think when you make them! This is one of our favorites.
Hoorah To Health says
These look delicious! Silly question, but do you eat the bay leaves or do they just add some flavor to the beef? I know when I add them to my stews, I always pick them out. The temperature graph is also super helpful!
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much for your question and for the feedback – we are so happy to hear it! It’s not silly at all. You don’t eat the bay leaves – they’re just for flavor.
Hoorah To Health says
That’s what I thought-Lol… can’t wait to try them out!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
This Portuguese Beef Skewers recipe looks SO deliciously good. I wish I could eat that right now!
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much, Maggie! They are SO delicious! We can’t wait to make them again.