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Recipe Blog - Feature - Wagyu Bavette

Smoked Cajun Butter Finished Canadian Wagyu Bavette Recipe

By: Andrea Alden

Canadian Wagyu beef is well-marbled, tender, and delicious. It is also expensive. I was incredibly lucky to get my hands on a lovely Canadian Wagyu Bavette from Chophouse Steaks and this is what happened when I made Smoked Cajun Butter Finished Canadian Wagyu Bavette Recipe. 

 

First of all, what is a Bavette? Bavette is French for bib and it’s also known as the flank steak in some places. It’s from the abdominal group of muscles in the lower chest on a cow. How do you cook a bavette? Bavette and flank steaks can be notoriously tough if cooked incorrectly and they take marinade very well. However, you don’t want to mask the delightful flavor of Wagyu Beef by soaking it in flavorful liquid. This incredible Wagyu meat should be treated with respect, and while a marinade could do some incredible things, a simple seasoning with a flavor-enhancing finish would be better in this case. For the cooking part, a fast and hot sear with a slower finish is ideal. So, hitting it with direct heat, then moving the bavette to indirect heat to finish will be the best solution. Remember, never cook a flank or bavette steak past medium. Ideally, serve it between 130°F and 140°F or medium-rare, and never exceed 150°F or the very top end of medium.

Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
20 min
Yield
4
Difficulty
Easy

Smoked Cajun Butter Finished Canadian Wagyu Bavette Recipe

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Ingredients

Method

Photos

Ingredients

2 lb.

Canadian Wagyu Bavette

1 tbsp.+

kosher salt

½ tbsp. 

dehydrated garlic

Freshly ground black pepper

Hickory wood chips or chunks


Cajun Butter

½ cup

butter, softened

2 tsp.

brown sugar

1 tsp.

chili powder

½ tsp.

cayenne powder

½ tsp.

garlic powder

½ tsp.

onion powder

1 tsp.

 

dried oregano

1 tsp.

dried thyme

Method
  1. In a bowl, combine the butter and seasonings to create the Cajun Butter mixture. Drop the mixture onto some plastic wrap and roll it into a thick log, sealing both ends of the wrap, sort of like a gigantic butter-flavored jolly rancher. Place it in the fridge or freezer to re-solidify.
  2. Build a two-zone fire using your charcoal grill and piling lit coals to one side of the grill, leaving the other open for an “indirect” area. If you are using a gas grill you can do the same with the Charcoal Tray or even by lighting two, side-by-side burners to high. If you are using gas, use the Napoleon Smoker Pipe or Napoleon Smoker Box, fill either one with soaked wood chips and place over the burners being used for this recipe. Preheat your grill for at least 10 to 15 minutes. 
  3. While the grill is warming, season the bavette thoroughly with the salt, garlic, and freshly ground pepper. 
  4. For charcoal (because with gas you already have the smoke going) add a small handful of hickory wood chips or a single hickory chunk to the charcoal. Sear the beef over direct heat for 2 minutes or until beautiful grill marks have formed. Flip the meat and sear the other side in the same fashion. Once fully seared, move the bavette off direct heat, whether that means moving it away from the coals or the burners, and allow it to finish. This takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. Check every few minutes with an instant-read BBQ thermometer or use the Napoleon Bluetooth Digital BBQ Thermometer to keep an eye on the meat for you. 
  5. Once the bavette reaches 130°F remove it from the heat and allow it to rest on a board. Just before slicing, slice 2 or 3 discs of butter from the now solid Cajun Butter and place it on the meat to begin melting before you slice and serve. 
  6. Serve with garlicky Cajun Butter green beans and fresh cornbread. 

Lightly smoky, super beefy, and with a sweet and spicy butter finish this Smoked Cajun Butter Finished Canadian Wagyu Bavette is the height of simple grilling luxury. If you’re going to get beef, splurge on something high quality and remember not to hide the amazing flavor but complement it with your seasonings and cooking method. Have you ever made a bavette? Share your best bavette recipes and photos on our social pages like Facebook and Instagram, using the hashtags #BBQBeef and #NapoleonEats.

Happy Grilling!

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Season

Season generously with garlic, salt, and pepper.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Sear

Sear over direct heat until grill marks form.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Smoke

Smoke using indirect heat until an internal temperature of 130°F.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Grill

Top with a couple of slices of cajun butter, then rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. 

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Cajun Butter

The sweet and spicy cajun butter finishes the smoky beef perfectly.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Serve

Serve with fresh cornbread and your favorite seasonal vegetables.

AndreaAlden
Andrea Alden

I used to be the Sultana of Sizzle, but you can call me Andrea. I have always been passionate about food. Even though I was majoring in Art and Graphic Design, I would frequently be found cooking for my friends and family.

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Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Season

Season generously with garlic, salt, and pepper.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Sear

Sear over direct heat until grill marks form.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Smoke

Smoke using indirect heat until an internal temperature of 130°F.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Grill

Top with a couple of slices of cajun butter, then rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. 

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Cajun Butter

The sweet and spicy cajun butter finishes the smoky beef perfectly.

Recipe Blog - Wagyu Bavette - Serve

Serve with fresh cornbread and your favorite seasonal vegetables.