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Authentic Carne Asada Marinade for Flavorful Grilling

Close-up of medium-rare sliced steak coated in a rich glaze, showing the results of the carne asada marinade.
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This easy Mexican carne asada marinade recipe uses fresh lime and cilantro to tenderize skirt or flank steak for the best grilled carne asada.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds skirt steak or flank steak
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional, for spicy carne asada marinade)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the steak: Trim any excess fat from your skirt steak or flank steak. If the steak is very thick, you can slice it in half horizontally to create thinner pieces for faster marinating and cooking.
  2. Combine marinade ingredients: In a large bowl or a resealable plastic bag, mix the orange juice, lime juice, cilantro, minced garlic, olive oil, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, chili powder, and jalapeño (if using). Whisk until well combined.
  3. Marinate the meat: Place the steak into the marinade mixture. Make sure the meat is fully coated.
  4. Refrigerate: Seal the bag or cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but no more than 8 hours. This is the best carne asada marinade time for flavor penetration without making the meat mushy.
  5. Prepare for grilling: Remove the steak from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard the remaining marinade.
  6. Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the carne asada for 3 to 5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until you reach your desired doneness.
  7. Rest and slice: Let the grilled meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve immediately for tacos or burritos.

Notes

  • For an even more authentic flavor, you can substitute some of the orange juice with beer or add a splash of soy sauce.
  • If you are using flank steak, you may need to increase the marinating time slightly, up to 10 hours.
  • Always pat the steak dry before grilling to get a good sear.

Nutrition

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