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Authentic Carne Asada Marinade for Grilling

Slices of perfectly grilled steak showing a dark crust and juicy interior, prepared with carne asada marinade.
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This is the best carne asada marinade recipe for achieving tender, flavorful skirt or flank steak with traditional Mexican citrus and chili notes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds skirt steak or flank steak
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 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 steak: If using flank steak, score both sides lightly in a crosshatch pattern. Place the steak in a large, sealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
  2. Combine marinade ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, vegetable oil, cilantro, garlic, soy sauce, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
  3. Marinate the meat: Pour the marinade over the steak, ensuring it is fully coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish.
  4. Refrigerate: Marinate the steak in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to 12 hours for the best flavor penetration. Do not marinate longer than 12 hours due to the acid content.
  5. Prepare for grilling: Remove the steak from the marinade about 30 minutes before cooking and let it come closer to room temperature. Discard the used marinade.
  6. Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the carne asada for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare, depending on thickness.
  7. Rest and slice: Remove the steak from the grill and let it rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes. Slice the meat thinly against the grain.

Notes

  • For an even deeper flavor, you can add one finely chopped jalapeño or serrano pepper to the marinade mixture.
  • This marinade works perfectly for both skirt steak carne asada and flank steak carne asada.
  • Always discard the leftover marinade after it has touched raw meat.

Nutrition

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