Monday, April 2, 2007

Carne louca

Carne louca (Crazy beef)

This is a very common recipe around here – carne louca, which means “crazy beef”.

It was easy to stumble upon these sandwiches in birthday parties. All the kids loved it – except for me. I already had problems with meat as a child. Never liked it. My mom had to sit by the table, her Havaianas in hand, staring at me, so I would eat my steak.

It was my first attempt at carne louca – and I must confess I only made it because João asked me to. I didn’t use a specific recipe, I made it the way I remembered it.

All I can say is that it smelled so great I had to taste it. And I did taste it. And then I had a big spoon of it, right before the 2 sandwiches I ate watching a soccer game on TV with João. :D

Carne louca

a 500g piece of eye of round
50g (2 tablespoons) butter
100ml white wine or beer
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
10 green olives, pitted and chopped
2 ½ tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt
freshly ground pepper

In a saucepan or kettle, set 1.5 liters water to boil.
In a pressure cooker* over high heat, melt the butter and add the piece of beef. Cook it, turning it around to get all the sides nicely browned. Add salt (just a little, since you’re going to season the beef in the end), wine/beer and the boiling water. Close the pressure cooker and when it starts whistling, turn down the heat and cook for 50 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it stand until all the pressure is released – be careful.

Place the beef on a cutting board and, using a knife and a fork, shred the entire piece. Put it in a large bowl (glass is better) and add the onion, bell pepper, olives, parsley and approx. 400ml of the broth left in the pressure cooker.
Season with salt and pepper to taste, add the lime juice and the olive oil and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, bringing to room temperature before serving.

Carne louca (Crazy beef)

Make sandwiches using baguettes.
* If you’re using a regular pan, proceed the same way and cook the beef for longer – it has to be very tender otherwise it will be hard to be shredded.

Carne louca (Crazy beef)

40 comments:

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

No this is new to me also. Pressure cooker...never had one, my mother-in-law loved it.
The sandwiches do look terrific...still I'm just not much on beef. I wish I could have tasted yours.

Anonymous said...

It's like those cheesesteak...but think yours is healthier...I call it healthy cheesesteak :D

Anh said...

Oh, this dish is new for me. But it looks really good! I will try to make it some day for my beef-lover friends. :D Great idea for a lazy picnic lunch :)

Valentina said...

PAt, must ask mum whether it was a popular dish where I grew up as I cannot remember it at all. Pressure cooker.I have already told you that it terrifies me. I might go for the long cooking time.It might be safer - for the house and my nerves.rss rss

Anonymous said...

i like my beef crazy! ahem, those sandwiches look deeeelicious.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Wonderful-- another new-to-me Brazilian recipe. I've always been partial to beef and olives cooked together. Thanks!

Warda said...

It looks as succulente as a sandwich I had during one of my trips to Florida. I still have the taste in my mouth.

Anonymous said...

Patricia--If anything could lure an avowed non-meat lover such as you to return to the fold, this "crazy beef" would be it. You may yet lure me over to the pressure cooker side.

Not to tamper with success, but might a clove or two of garlic cooked with the beef even ramp up the flavor a bit more?

Anonymous said...

That's an interesting filling for sandwiches and the ingredients are easily available. I'll keep this in mind, thanks!

Kirsten said...

Delicious!! Thanks for sharing! I think my boyfriend would really like it. (I know I'll like it!)

Kirsten :)

Gattina Cheung said...

I love the name :D As I don't often eat meat, so once I have chance to taste it, it has to be as crazy as possible! Yours just bursting out all wonderful colors and flavors!

evinrude said...

Ah beef! BEEF! I love beef!

I'm hoping you're enjoying my site and recipes as much as I'm enjoying yours! =)

Stella said...

It looks crazy but tasty as well to me Pat!
I'm not a big fan of beef myself but when I read your ingredients, I've no wonder how you couldn't resist it!:)

Anonymous said...

This is the first time I've heard of it but it sounds delicious to me :) I have never used a pressure cooker because I'm deathlt afraid of it but my mother-in-law gave me a really nice one so maybe I can give it a go with this "crazy beef" :)

Brilynn said...

It's funny how our tastes change over time, I'm ashamed to admit some of the things I didn't like as a kid but love now.

JB said...

Patricia,
I don't eat beef - could this be made with chicken and be just as good? JB

Patricia Scarpin said...

Sher, it's worth trying.

Tanna, I don't eat beef either - but this was impossible to resist.

Tigerfish, I don't know cheesesteak - we're always trading info, right? :)

Anh, great idea taking these to a picnic.

Tina, a reader of the blog in Portuguese wrote that she didn't know it either - and she lives in Rio de Janeiro.
Go ahead and make it in a regular pan - I don't want to scare you, sweetie! :)

Aria, tks! The crazier the better! lol

Lydia, olives are great with everything!

Rose, tks for the visit! It's very succulent, you're right.

Terry, you see? I don't eat beef and I had 2 sandwiches. :D
I think your garlic idea sounds terrific - you can be sure I'm gonna try it next time and let you know!

Pablopabla, tks to you! I hope you enjoy it.

Kirsten, the men in our lives are crazy for meat, right? :D

Gattina, I like the name too. :)
I think the great thing here is exactly that: the flavors you add to the beef transform it into something completely unusual.

Hi, Evinrude! I will check you blog and tks for visiting and for the lovely comment!

Valentina, it's not a regular beef recipe - it's totally crazy indeed! :D

Joey, I've been handling a pressure cooker ever since I was 13 or something. I know, crazy, but being home alone I thought I could do anything. lol

Brilynn, you're right - and I think that's a good thing.

JB, I have never heard of a chicken version for this. I don't know if the mild taste of chicken would be overwhelmed by the other ingredients. You got me!

Anonymous said...

This looks absolutely mouthwatering and refreshing, perfect for a summer lunch. When I was little I didn't like cheese or peanut butter (a kid not liking pizza or pb&js impossible!) but now I love them.

Anonymous said...

All I can say is that this looks like PERFECT picnic fare! Easy to make up, and then people can stuff their own rolls when they get hungry! :D

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

One would be crazy not to eat the whole thing! In a way, it's like sausage and peppers in the U.S. But the beef is simmered in beer! Great!

Helene said...

Mention beef these days and I am all over it...I love visiting your blog for all the new foods and dishes I learn about. That sandwich has my name all over it.

Truffle said...

This sounds absolutely fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Those sandwiches look awesome, they reminded of philly cheese steak, except much better. :)


Ari (Baking and Books)

Anonymous said...

Dude, what is up with my grammar? I meant to say, "they remind me of philly cheese steak" sandwiches. Doh!


Ari (Baking and Books)

Freya said...

When am I coming to live in your kitchen again?

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Hi Patricia! Oh, would Jeff love this dish!
Thanks so much for making my broccoli pasta. Yours looks delicious, especially with all that yummy cheese on top! It was sweet of you as was your note of concern. Thanks for being such a dear.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Amy, wow! You didn't like pizza!! :D
This recipe is great because you can make it ahead.

Ellie, you've said it all, my friend!

T.W., the beer/wine will make it very tender.

Helene, I feel the same way about your blog, sweetie. I want to make those fancy desserts presented in beautiful glasses. ;)

Truffle, Joao and I loved it.

Ari, I had to google philly cheese steak - it looks delicious and Joao would love it!
I sometimes type to fast and write the oddest things. :)

Freya, you're more than welcome here, dear!

Susan, I'm so glad you're feeling better!
Your recipes are wonderful, there are many others I'm willing to try!

Anonymous said...

Yes, taste buds change overtime. I agree wit Ari, it does remind of philly cheesesteak without the cheese... so I know I'll love this.

Anonymous said...

These are so delicious looking... I must give this a try!

Anonymous said...

Gosto tanto desta recita, obrigado
O titro fasme rire
disculpa paje faultaje d'orthographia

Melting Wok said...

Patricia, over here they call it carne loco(crazy), Espanol haha, and the Mexicans roll it up in wraps, yummys, thx for sharing ! :)

Lis said...

Patricia!! I am SO MAKING THIS! Oh my gawd it looks incredibly good! Well I guess it would have to be if you enjoyed it, yes? hehe! Fabulous pictures too!

Happy Easter!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

i'm just wondering why it's called crazy beef? because of the appearance? those looks very tasty though.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Veron, I hope you like it!

Kristen, let me know if you make it, please.

Candy, obrigada, querida!

Melting Wok, so the recipes are similar!

Lis, you're so sweet! Thank you and I hope you had a lovely Easter!
xx

Eliza, I think it's because of the looks and also for having many things mixed in.

Deborah Dowd said...

This looks fabulous, but alas, no pressure cooker. Could I just cook it a longer time, say in a crock pot or stovetop?

Aki said...

Nossa, q saudade de carne louca! Assim q o verao chegar por aqui vou fazer!!! Obrigada por colocar a receita! Ah, seu blog eh uma graca!

Anonymous said...

Ha, ha, ha! I loved your description of your mother sitting by you while you tried to eat your meat and coped with her Havaianas! Cute. My father was the one who sat by me—his presence being enough: no Havaianas—while I struggled, trying to swallow the meat. I was allowed to spit it into the dish after I had sucked the "juice"... I was the skinniest child you've ever met; no wonder my father tried to make me eat.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Deborah, you could cook the meat in a regular pan, but it would take a lot longer.

Aki, obrigada!

Anonymous, it was tough! I hated eating beef and pork but mom did not understand that. :S
I was pretty skinny, too, like you. :)

claire said...

looks great! i could eat one of those right this second (and it is 930 AM where i am) :)

Patricia Scarpin said...

Claire, thank you! I had a laugh with you! ;D

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