Espetada Madeirense (Bife de Vaca em Pau de Louro)
Madeira-Style Grilled Beef Skewers with Keto Vegetables
Yes, with a tweak: request no milho frito (fried cornmeal) or potatoes/fries. About 4g net carbs per serving, lower than 8 in 10 Portuguese dishes.
What it is
A specialty from Madeira, featuring large chunks of tender beef seasoned with salt, garlic, and bay leaf, then grilled on a long laurel wood skewer. The laurel wood imparts a distinctive aroma. Traditionally served with fried cornmeal (milho frito) or fries.
Key ingredients
Beef (often sirloin or tenderloin), garlic, bay leaves, coarse salt, olive oil. Keto version includes a side of green salad or grilled asparagus.
How to make it keto
Request no milho frito (fried cornmeal) or potatoes/fries. Ask for a side of green salad (dressing on the side) or grilled/sautéed low-carb vegetables like asparagus or greens.
Say this to the waiter (Portuguese)
A Espetada, por favor, sem milho frito nem batatas fritas. Gostaria de salada verde com molho à parte, ou legumes grelhados/salteados.
For the Espetada, please no milho frito or potatoes. I'd like a green salad with dressing on the side, or grilled low-carb vegetables.
Watch out for
Traditional starchy sides are high in carbs. Some marinades could contain minimal sugar, but generally, this dish is very simple.
Macros are estimates for a typical serving and vary by restaurant. Confirm ingredients with staff, especially if you have allergies. Our ingredient lists are generated automatically and describe how a dish is typically made.
More on the Portuguese menuAll 980 Portuguese dishes ›
