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Authentic Carne Asada Marinade for Flavorful Grilling

Close-up of perfectly grilled and sliced steak, showing a juicy medium-rare interior, achieved with the carne asada marinade.
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Make the best carne asada with this authentic Mexican marinade featuring lime, cilantro, and spices. This recipe tenderizes skirt or flank steak perfectly for grilling.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs skirt steak or flank steak
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup orange juice (optional, for extra tenderness)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the steak: Trim any excess fat from your skirt or flank steak. If the steak is very thick, you can butterfly it or pound it slightly to an even thickness.
  2. Mix the marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, and orange juice if you are using it.
  3. Marinate the meat: Place the steak in a large zip-top bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the steak, ensuring it is fully coated.
  4. Refrigerate: Seal the bag or cover the dish. Marinate the carne asada in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or ideally, overnight for the best flavor. Do not marinate for more than 12 hours, as the acid can start to break down the meat too much.
  5. Grill: Remove the steak from the marinade and let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before grilling. Discard the used marinade.
  6. Cook the steak over high heat on your grill until you reach your desired doneness, usually 3 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.
  7. Rest and slice: Let the grilled carne asada rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve immediately for tacos or burritos.

Notes

  • For a spicier marinade, add one minced jalapeño or serrano pepper to the mixture.
  • If you do not have fresh cilantro, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of dried cilantro, though fresh is highly recommended for authentic flavor.
  • This marinade works well for both skirt steak carne asada and flank steak carne asada.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://flavorvista.com/carne-asada-marinade-recipe-best-grilling/