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Authentic Carne Asada Marinade for Flavorful Grilling

Close-up of three thick, juicy slices of grilled steak coated in a rich Carne asada marinade, resting on a white plate.
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This is the best carne asada marinade recipe for achieving tender, flavorful skirt or flank steak perfect for tacos and burritos.

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 large jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional, for spicy carne asada marinade)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup orange juice

Instructions

  1. Prepare the steak: Trim any excess fat from your skirt steak or flank steak. If the steak is very thick, you can butterfly it or pound it slightly to an even thickness.
  2. Combine marinade ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, minced garlic, jalapeño (if using), cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and orange juice. This creates your citrus carne asada marinade.
  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 steak in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but preferably 8 to 12 hours for the best flavor. Do not marinate for more than 24 hours, as the acid can start to break down the meat too much.
  5. Prepare for grilling: Remove the steak from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking. Discard the used marinade.
  6. Grill: Preheat your grill to high heat. Grill the carne asada for 3 to 5 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 5 to 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.

Notes

  • For an even deeper flavor, you can add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to the marinade mixture.
  • If you prefer a milder heat, use half a serrano pepper instead of a jalapeño.
  • This marinade works well for both skirt steak carne asada marinade and flank steak carne asada marinade.

Nutrition

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