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Close up of a cooked beef skewer over a platter of Portuguese beef skewers
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Portuguese Beef Skewers (Espetada Madeira)

Quick, flavorful, and unforgettable! Portuguese beef skewers (Espetada) are grilled with garlic, salt, & bay leaves for a rich taste - ready in just 15 minutes!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Portuguese
Keyword Espetada Madeira, Espetadas Madeira, Portuguese beef skewers, Steak skewers
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings 6 skewers
Calories 265kcal
Author Isabel Laessig

Equipment

  • Grilling skewers

Ingredients

  • 3 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 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.
    Cutting Certified Angus Beef® brand strip steaks into cubes for Portuguese Beef Skewers (Espetada Madeira)
  • 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.
    Mixing the seasoning mixture for Espetadas Madeira (Portuguese Beef Skewers) in a small glass bowl
  • 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. (About 20 bay leaves)
    Holding a skewer layered with strip steak cubes and bay leaves in between each piece of steak
  • Brush about 1 teaspoon olive oil onto each skewer to prevent sticking when you grill them.
    Brushing oil onto Espetada Madeira (Portuguese Beef Skewers) before grilling 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!
    Portuguese beef skewers cooking on the grill
  • Once the skewers reach an internal temperature of 135°F (medium-rare) or your desired degree of doneness*, they are safe to remove from the grill. Serve, and enjoy!
    Showing the beautiful pink medium-rare of steak kebabs by splitting a piece with hands

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.
  • Serve with grilled potatoes and tomato cucumber salad for the perfect combination!

Nutrition

Serving: 1skewer | Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 447mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg
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