Beef Carpaccio Recipe (2024)

by lena gladstone |

This simple, yet sophisticated Beef Carpaccio Recipe is made with thinly sliced raw beef, pickled shallots, capers, and fresh arugula. It’s a vibrant, no-cook Italian appetizer that pairs perfectly with an Aperol Spritz.

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Beef Carpaccio Recipe (1)

Italian beef carpaccio appetizer

This easy Beef Carpaccio Recipe brings the Italian restaurant into your own kitchen! It’s a flavorful starter that features paper-thin slices of lean beef served with Italian-inspired garnishes, like pickled shallots, arugula, capers, and parmesan.

Similar to Salmon Sashimi, beef carpaccio puts raw sliced meat on display. This way, the full flavors of the meat are enjoyed and even enhanced with the complimentary toppings. It’s a delicacy that can be intimidating to make and eat, but it’s surprisingly simple to put together and always a show-stopper!

What is a carpaccio?

Just think of carpaccio as the Italian version of Steak Tartare. It’s a popular starter or light lunch made with raw meat that’s been thinly sliced or pounded flat. Beef carpaccio is extra savory, but it’s also common to make it with veal, salmon, and tuna.

Beef Carpaccio Recipe (2)

Is it safe to eat?

There’s always a risk when serving raw meat for appetizers, like carpaccio and salmon tartare. Cooking beef is the best way to ensure it’s free of bacteria and foodborne illnesses.

There are, however, easy ways to lower this risk, like buying top-quality beef from a reputable butcher and letting them know that you’re specifically using it to make carpaccio. They’ll make sure you’re getting the freshest beef possible.

Lastly, eat the beef on the same day as you buy it and keep it refrigerated as long as possible. This is not a dish to save for leftovers!

Ingredients

The most important ingredient is the beef of course! Start with a lean cut of beef, like beef tenderloin, sirloin, or top round. Keep it in the fridge or freezer right until it’s time to slice and serve.

The rest of the ingredients, including pickled shallots and Italian toppings, complement the flavor of the beef rather than overwhelm it. Here’s what you need:

  • Shallots
  • White wine vinegar
  • Sea salt
  • Capers
  • Arugula
  • Chives
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Lemon wedges
Beef Carpaccio Recipe (3)

How to make beef carpaccio

Before you start, put your serving platter in the fridge so it’s chilled for serving. Slice the shallots and place them in a bowl of warm water to tone down their tart flavor. Drain, then place in a bowl with the vinegar and salt. Set them aside to pickle.

Cut the beef into 4 rounds and place each one in between two layers of parchment or plastic. Pound each piece with a mallet until they’re flat and thin.

Tip: Instead of pounding the beef flat, use a serrated knife to slice very thin pieces. Place the beef in the freezer 2 hours ahead of time so it’s easier to slice.

Beef Carpaccio Recipe (4)

Place the flattened beef (still between parchment/plastic) back in the fridge until chilled (you can do this 5 minutes or several hours before serving).

To serve, remove the top layer of parchment/plastic and flip the meat onto the chilled platter. Discard the plastic and move the meat around in a circle or overlapping each other.

Top the sliced beef with the pickled shallots, capers, arugula, and chives. Add a sprinkle of salt, then a generous drizzle of olive oil. Finish with the grated parmesan and place more cheese and lemon wedges on the side. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Beef Carpaccio Recipe (5)

Serving suggestions

You can either serve beef carpaccio on its own or with crusty slices of crostini, ciabatta, focaccia, or a baguette. Pair it with an Aperol Spritz or light red wine for the perfect appetizer!

To make it an Italian feast, follow it up with Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Penne Alla Vodka, and Radicchio Salad for dinner.

More garnish ideas

You can think of this carpaccio recipe as a blank canvas. Mix and match the garnishes based on what’s in season or what you’re craving. Just remember: you want them to compliment the savory flavor of the meat, not hide or overwhelm it.

Feel free to swap any of the toppings with these suggestions instead:

  • Peppercorns
  • Thyme
  • Pickled red onions
  • Mustard
  • Egg yolks
  • Walnuts
  • Gremolata sauce
  • Gorgonzola cheese
  • Fennel
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Olives
  • Lemon juice*

*Only season the beef with lemon juice right before serving. Any earlier and the acid will cook the meat.

Beef Carpaccio Recipe (6)

Frequently asked questions

What cut of meat is best for beef carpaccio?

Beef tenderloin or top round are two of my favorite cuts of beef for carpaccio because they’re lean and mildly flavored. For a stronger flavor, use a fatty and tender cut, like sirloin, filet mignon, or ribeye.

Can you make it ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble the sliced meat on the plate a few hours before serving and cover a layer of plastic over top. Keep it in the fridge, then add the toppings and dressing right before serving.

How long does it last?

I don’t recommend saving or eating the leftover carpaccio later on. For food safety purposes, it’s best to eat the beef on the day you buy it.

Beef Carpaccio Recipe (7)

Looking for more Italian appetizers?

  • Zuppa Toscana
  • Mozzarella Arancini
  • Tomato and Onion Salad
  • Italian Meatball Sliders

If you try this Beef Carpaccio Recipe let me know what you think! Rate and review this recipe in the comments below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog!

Beef Carpaccio Recipe (8)

Beef Carpaccio Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Refrigerate: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Lena Gladstone

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

This simple, yet sophisticated Beef Carpaccio Recipe is made with thinly sliced raw beef, pickled shallots, capers, and fresh arugula. It’s a vibrant, no-cook Italian appetizer that pairs perfectly with an Aperol Spritz.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place a serving platter or 4 separate plates into the refrigerator to chill for serving.

  • Peel the shallot, cut it in half and then slice with a sharp knife into thin slices. Place into a small bowl. Rinse in warm water, then drain and add white wine vinegar and ¼ teasppon of salt. Toss and let marinate for at least 10 minutes.

  • Cut beef into four 1½-ounce slice rounds or about ½ inch thickness. Trim away any fat or gristle. Put each slice between 2 layers of heavy-duty plastic wrap or parchment. Gently pound beef flat with the flat side of a meat mallet to a thickness of about 1/16 inch and a diameter of about 6 inches. Refrigerate flattened slices for 5 minutes, until chilled (do not remove plastic). Tip: You can prepare up to this point several hours ahead. Just keep the meat refrigerated until ready to serve.

  • To serve, peel top layer of plastic from each slice. Invert each slice onto a chilled platter. Peel away remaining plastic. You can slightly overlap them on the platter or serve on individual plates.

  • Top each slice with pickled shallots, capers, arugula, and chives. Season each portion with salt and drizzle generously with olive oil. With a vegetable peeler, shave Parmesan into curls. Garnish with Parmesan and lemon wedges and serve immediately. Serve with bread or on its own.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean

Keyword: appetizer, beef, easy appetizer, italian, meat, starter, steak

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 836mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1mg

Beef Carpaccio Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best beef to use for carpaccio? ›

Beef sirloin and tenderloin are the most common meats used to make carpaccio. Go to a reputable butcher who knows that the beef will be consumed raw. After you've trimmed all the fat off the meat, season your cut with salt, pepper, herbs, and vinegar.

Is beef carpaccio completely raw? ›

Carpaccio (pronounced "car-PAH-chee-oh") is a traditional Italian appetizer consisting of raw beef sliced paper-thin, drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice, and finished with capers and onions. In contemporary cuisine, carpaccio can refer to any thinly sliced raw meat or fish, such as tuna, served in this fashion.

What is the cooking technique of carpaccio? ›

The Basics Carpaccio is raw meat or fish, thinly sliced, sometimes pounded, sometimes seared. It's typically topped with salt, pepper, oil, acid, and something savory. The idea is to mechanically tenderize the meat by slicing it thinly across the grain or hitting it with a meat mallet.

Why is it OK to eat carpaccio? ›

Carpaccio has a very low caloric intake and is high in protein, ideal for weight control and fat intake. Eating raw makes you have to chew more, which means greater satiety and better digestion. Raw meat, fish and vegetables improve the quality of sleep.

What makes beef carpaccio safe? ›

With whole cut of beef the bacteria is located on the outside of the meat. The only effective method to kill the bacteria is to sear the outside of the meat, thus when serving raw meat, as for Carpaccio, the raw meat must have been seared first.

How do you buy beef for carpaccio? ›

Beef tenderloin should be purchased from a reputable butcher or market. It is a high end cut of meat. To reduce the risk of bacteria growth, purchase the tenderloin the same day you intend to prepare the beef carpaccio, and keep it refrigerated at all times.

Why can you eat carpaccio and not get sick? ›

When carpaccio is made from fresh meat, and using just one cut of meat, it is safer to eat. This is because there is less chance of contamination. That said, pregnant women, children, people with weakened immunities, and those who are at high risk of food poisoning are advised to avoid carpaccio.

What is the difference between beef carpaccio and beef tartare? ›

The main distinction between them is the way the meat is prepared and what they're finished with. Tartare meat is chopped or diced, while carpaccio meat is thinly sliced. Tartare has much stronger seasonings than carpaccio, such as raw egg yolk and Worcestershire sauce.

How long does beef carpaccio last? ›

Make the carpaccio on the same day you buy the meat and eat it that day as well. Do not save or eat any for leftovers. And of course, consume at your own risk. If you are pregnant or immuno-compromised, you'll probably want to skip this dish.

Are you supposed to roll carpaccio? ›

Using a very sharp knife, cut beef across the grain into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Place slices between sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper and gently pound with the flat end of a meat mallet, or roll with a heavy rolling pin until paper-thin.

What does carpaccio mean in Italian? ›

Carpaccio, according to Food Republic, is “the Italian term for raw beef filet that has been thoroughly chilled and sliced paper-thin. The slices are arranged on a plate, typically with some shaved Parmesan, capers, salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice and a simple arugula salad.

What is carpaccio in English? ›

Meaning of carpaccio in English

a dish originally from Italy consisting of very thin slices of raw (= not cooked) meat, usually beef (= meat from a cow), or fish: The first course was carpaccio of salmon. Restaurants that serve steak tartare and beef carpaccio take extra caution when preparing raw beef dishes.

Is carpaccio meat cured? ›

Thin slices of an air-dried beef fillet, drizzled with oil, lemon juice, and grated Parmesan. Originating in the alpine valley of Valtellina, not far from Milan, «bresaola» is a beef fillet which is first cured in salt and spices, and then hung to dry for at least 1 months.

Can Jews eat carpaccio? ›

Can Jews eat Carpaccio? Beef carpaccio and steak tartar are both Kosher. Ethiopian Jews are an exception since they usually do not consume popular Ethiopian raw meat meals.

What is the best cut of beef to eat raw? ›

The best cuts of beef for steak tartare

Saveur seconds the choice of beef tenderloin, specifying the center cut. As its name implies, beef tenderloin comes from the loin of the cow, where there is less connective tissue and where the most tender meat is found (via The Spruce Eats).

What is the best meat for raw beef? ›

For taste and food safety, it is essential to use only the highest quality and freshest raw beef, from a reputable butcher. Tenderloin and rib steak are the best choices.

What type of beef is the most tender? ›

Tenderloin Steak

The most tender of all cuts of beef, tenderloin steaks are lean and known for their delicate, butter-like texture and thick cut. These mouthwatering steaks are so tender they can be “cut with a butter knife.” Tenderloin steaks are commonly known as filets or filet mignon.

What are the most tender tender beef cuts? ›

Black Angus filet mignon is the most tender cut of beef used for steaks. It comes from the smaller end of the tenderloin and should be well-marbled. You can grill it or cook it in a skillet and is best served blue rare or rare. Blue rare is a style of cooking that is becoming very popular for meat lovers.

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