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Authentic Carne Asada Marinade for Flavorful Grilling

Close-up of medium-rare sliced steak, glistening from the carne asada marinade, served on a white plate.
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Learn how to make the best carne asada marinade using fresh lime, cilantro, and spices for incredibly tender and flavorful grilled skirt or flank steak.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds skirt steak or flank steak
  • 1 cup fresh lime juice (about 6-8 limes)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for spicy carne asada marinade)
  • 1/4 cup orange juice

Instructions

  1. Prepare the steak: Trim any excess fat from your skirt steak or flank steak. If using flank steak, you may want to lightly pound it to an even thickness.
  2. Combine marinade ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, minced garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper (if using), and orange juice. This creates your citrus carne asada marinade.
  3. Marinate the meat: Place the steak in a large, resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the steak, making sure 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 penetration. Do not marinate for much longer than 12 hours, as the acid from the lime juice can start to break down the meat too much.
  5. Grill: Remove the steak from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Grill over medium-high heat for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare, depending on thickness. This is the best carne asada marinade for grilling.
  6. 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 an even deeper flavor in your Mexican carne asada marinade, add one finely chopped jalapeño or serrano pepper to the mixture.
  • If you are using flank steak, slicing it against the grain after grilling is crucial for tenderness.
  • This marinade works well for both skirt steak carne asada marinade and flank steak carne asada marinade applications.

Nutrition

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