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Carne Seca served with rice and fresh coriander
Authentic Brazilian Carne Seca, tasty dried beef dish

Carne Seca

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Main Courses
Carne Seca ('dried meat') is an invention of the Brazilian 'sertão' (dry hinterland) from times before refrigerators. Beef is salted and sun-dried, which concentrates the flavours and gives it a special, chewy-elastic texture. Before preparation, the salt must be soaked out of it – this dish is about patience, but the result is such an intense meat experience you would never get from fresh meat.
🕒 Prep Time 1 day
🍳 Cook Time 1 hr 10 mins
⌛ Total Time 1 day 1 hr 10 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 450 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Brazilian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large bowl: For soaking.
  • Pressure cooker (optional): For faster tenderising.

Instructions

1 ✓

The most important step: Cut the meat into 5-6 cm cubes and soak in cold water for at least 24 hours. Change the water 3-4 times!

Tip: Balancing the salt concentration (diffusion) is time-consuming. If you don't change the water, the salt has nowhere to go.
2 ✓

Place the meat in fresh water and cook until tender (30-40 mins in a pressure cooker, 1.5-2 hours in a pot). It is good when it can be crushed with a fork.

Tip: Due to salting, meat fibres are tougher (dehydration occurred), hence the need for long cooking for rehydration.
3 ✓

Drain, clean off fatty parts (to taste), and tear into bite-sized pieces or shreds.

4 ✓

Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the onion until translucent. Toss in the meat and fry until the edges are crispy.

Tip: This 'frying' phase gives the final texture: soft inside, crispy outside.
5 ✓

Add the garlic and tomato, toss together for 2-3 minutes. At the very end, sprinkle with fresh coriander.

Tip: Don't overcook the tomato, let it remain chunky.
6 ✓

Serve with white rice and black beans (Feijoada style).

Recipe FAQ

The dish stayed too salty. What should I do?
Carne Seca is very salty. If you feel it's salty even after soaking, cook it longer with potatoes – the potato 'sucks' the salt out of the liquid (osmosis).

Ingredients

  • 500 g Carne Seca (dried, salted beef)
  • 2 tbsp Oil or butter
  • 1 head Onion (sliced)
  • 2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
  • 2 pcs Tomatoes (diced)
  • 1 bunch Fresh coriander
  • 4 portions Cooked rice (side dish)