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Authentic Carne Asada Marinade for Flavorful Grilling

Slices of medium-rare grilled steak, glistening with juices from the carne asada marinade, served on a white plate.
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This is the best carne asada marinade recipe for achieving tender, flavorful skirt or flank steak using traditional Mexican citrus and spice notes.

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Prepare the meat: Trim any excess fat from your skirt steak or flank steak.
  2. Combine marinade ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the lime juice, orange juice, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
  3. Marinate the steak: Place the steak in a large, resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the meat, ensuring it is fully coated.
  4. Refrigerate: Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to 12 hours for the best flavor. Do not marinate longer than 12 hours, as the citrus can break down the meat too much.
  5. Prepare for grilling: Remove the steak from the marinade about 30 minutes before cooking. Discard the remaining marinade. Pat the steak dry slightly with paper towels.
  6. Grill the steak: Preheat your grill to high heat. Grill the carne asada for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare, depending on the thickness of the steak.
  7. Rest and slice: Remove the steak from the grill and let it rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.

Notes

  • This recipe works well for both skirt steak carne asada marinade and flank steak carne asada marinade.
  • For an even deeper flavor, you can add one minced jalapeño to the marinade mixture.
  • Resting the meat after grilling is key to keeping your carne asada juicy.

Nutrition

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