Name: Grilled Skewers of Beef with Garlic and Bay Leaves Espetadas
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 3 pound beef tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes; 4 large garlic cloves, finely slivered; 4 large bay leaves, crumbled; 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon salt

Grilled Skewers of Beef with Garlic and Bay Leaves Espetadas

Espetadas are a typical grilled Portuguese dish whose key ingredients are simple: Beef, garlic, salt, and bay leaves. There's not a whole lot more to the recipe, and it's not only easy to prepare, it's fast, too.

Notes

You can also cook the espetadas in your oven's broiler, if you don't feel like grilling them. To do so, lay the skewers on a lightly greased broiler pan, place 5 to 6 inches from the heat, then broil, turning frequently. Cook about 6 minutes for very rare, 8 minutes for rare, and 10 for medium-rare. Brush frequently with marinade.

Cooking Time10 min

Cooking MethodGrilling

Ingredients

3 pounds beef tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 large garlic cloves, finely slivered
4 large bay leaves, crumbled
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a shallow baking dish and toss well.
Let marinate in the refrigerator 2 hours or up to 2 days, tossing the mixture occasionally.
Let stand at room temperature while preparing the grill.
Thread the beef on 6 or 8 long metal skewers, dividing the total amount evenly.
Heat the marinade in a small saucepan 2 to 3 minutes, brush lightly over the espetada.
Pour the remaining marinade into a small heavy saucepan and set at the edge of a grill, adjusted so that it is about 5 inches above white-hot coals.
Lay the skewered beef on the grill and cook, turning often, about 5 minutes for very rare, 7 minutes for rare, and 9 to 10 for medium-rare, brushing frequently with marinade.