Making this restaurant dish at home is always such a treat. I have all the tips you need to be putting out plates of beef carpaccio just like a professional chef!
The most important step in making beef carpaccio is to start with slightly frozen meat, making it easier to slice thinly. Using the correct knife is also very important for those thin slices. Find out everything you need to know to make this delicious appetizer.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
What is Carpaccio?
Carpaccio is an Italian dish centered around raw meat, originally beef but now you may see other versions such as tuna or salmon. It’s sliced or pounded very thin and served raw as an appetizer or light lunch. You’ll usually see it drizzled with oil and vinegar, lemon juice, or some kind of dressing along with salt, pepper, and greens or other garnishes.
Carpaccio is similar to tartare, but while carpaccio is thinly sliced raw meat, tartare is chopped or diced meat. You can try our Steak Tartare or Tuna Tartare recipes if you’d like to try that preparation.
The first time I saw beef carpaccio I was very hesitant. I’ve been told from a young age about health hazards of eating rare, let alone raw meat. So, how is this okay?
Raw Meat Safety
Well, there is always a risk when you eat uncooked or under-cooked meat. But if you take a few precautions, you can be pretty sure that it will be alright.
To make sure your carpaccio is as safe to eat as possible, buy your beef tenderloin from a clean and credible butcher, tell the butcher what you plan to do with it, and ask if the chosen meat will be suitable. Then, keep the meat refrigerated at all times except when preparing it and eating it. 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.
Making Beef Carpaccio
Step #1 Partially Freeze Beef
Place your beef tenderloin in the freezer to get it partially frozen. Meat is easier to cut thinly if it has been frozen in this way.
Our beef took around two hours to freeze to that point but it can all depend on your freezer and how big of a cut you have. Ours was 1/3 lb. so it froze quite fast. You want it really really cold and frozen but not frozen solid. Note: This recipe was originally sponsored by Cutco and their knifes are in the photographs.
Step #2 Cut Thin Slices
Once the beef is frozen use a serrated slicer or a good sharp chef’s knife to cut extremely thin pieces of meat. When you hold the slice up you should almost be able to look through it.
Since the slicer has serrated edges you need to move your knife back and first to cut.
Step #3 Arrange on Cool Plate
Place your sliced beef on a cool plate. And I don’t mean like awesome, cool, I mean like, put it in the fridge and bring to a lower temperature cool. We’ve popped a bag of frozen peas under our plate to keep it cold while we work.
Some people, even Alton Brown and Serious Eats, have you slice the partially frozen meat and then put the slices between plastic wrap. At that point, you use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound them even thinner. However, we found that our slices were very thin as they were and that they didn’t get more tender from pounding. Doing the extra step wasn’t therefore necessary. If, however, you want them even thinner, it is an extra step that you can take.
Step #4 Add Garnishes
Once all of your beef slices are on your cold plate, it’s time to add the garnishes. Beef carpaccio is all about the garnishes.
Add capers, sea salt, ground pepper, arugula, and a small drizzle of oil and red wine vinegar. Eat immediately. I mean, how could you even resist this gorgeous and delicious appetizer?
Podcast Episode: Making Beef Carpaccio
Listen to our editor, Christine Pittman, explain briefly about how to make this appetizer, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Beef Carpaccio Recipe
The most important step in making beef carpaccio is to start with slightly frozen meat, making it easier to slice thinly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Freeze Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1/3 lb. beef tenderloin
- handful arugula
- 2 tsp. capers
- 2 tsp. red wine vinegar
- 4 tsp. olive oil
- cracked black pepper
- sea salt
Instructions
- Freeze beef tenderloin until very firm but not rock solid, about 1-2 hours. While the beef is in the freezer, place the plates in the fridge to chill.
- Once the beef is firm, slice very thinly against the grain and place slices on chilled plates.
- Top each serving with a handful of arugula and capers. Drizzle with vinegar and olive oil and add a pinch of freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt. Serve immediately.
Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!
Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Cutco. All opinions are ours and honest.
This post originally appeared in October 2016 and was revised and republished in February 2024.
Why is it OK to eat this beef without cooking? It’s one of my favorite things to have but I’ve never understood how it can be safe.
There is still a risk, but if you follow the advice in the above post, you’ll be fine. It’s important to get high-quality, fresh beef for this, so I encourage going to a butcher and letting them know you want to make carpaccio so they can help. Enjoy, MK!
This used to be my go to appetizer at restaurants.
Now I can make it at home.
Thank you for sharing.
Beverly, I’m so excited for you to try it!
I have always pounded the slices flat between plastic wrap when making beef carpaccio before. I had never frozen the meat though to make thin slices. This worked like a charm and was easier too. 5 stars from my wife and from me!
Bill, I’m so happy you both liked it! I don’t find the pounding flat step necessary either. Thanks for the 5 star review!
This turned out so good! The freezing tip really help to get the thin slices. I didn’t believe it would help but it really did!
I’m with you, Cheryl! I didn’t think the freezing would do much either. But it really helps to keep the meat from giving way to the pressure from your knife, and so the cut occurs exactly where you want it to. Thanks for the comment and rating!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Tim. We like this method for preparing it at home.