Our Easy Carne Asada Recipe
Juicy carne asada is one of our very favorite summertime dinners. Just marinate some flank steak in our delicious carne asada marinade, fire up the grill, and dinner’s nearly done. Just add some Chips, Guacamole, Pico De Gallo and Margaritas or Ranch Water, and you’ve got yourself a party, even if it’s just a party for two. Add some Homemade Tortillas to the mix and make Carne Asada Tacos with the grilled steak, or enjoy it over a bed of lettuce or Cilantro Lime Rice.
Carne Asada Ingredients
The meat
Steak. Flank steak is the classic, but skirt steak will work, too.
The marinade
Orange juice
Lime juice
Olive oil
Fresh garlic
Dried oregano
Chili powder
Kosher salt
Cumin
Black pepper
Cayenne
How To Make Carne Asada
Mix up the carne asada marinade. Simply whisk together fresh citrus juices, olive oil, garlic, oregano, chili powder, salt, cumin, pepper, and cayenne. Get a little excited!
Marinate the steak. Marinate your steak in the fridge for at least an hour, but not longer than four hours. With so much citrus juice in the carne asada marinade, the meat will begin to break down too much if you let it sit too long. A big baking dish is really handy for marinating flank steak, but you can also do this in a zipper-top bag, if need be.
Season the steak. Once the beef is marinated, sprinkle it with a little salt and pepper.
Hit the grill! “Asada” means grill, so you’ve got to grill your “carne” to make it true “carne asada.” If you don’t have a gas grill or charcoal grill, use a grill pan. Our steak is usually done after about five minutes per side, but keep an eye on it and of course, consider what level of doneness you prefer. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness.
Let the grilled steak rest. Though there is some disagreement about why it works (because, food science) letting a grilled steak rest for a few minutes before cutting is a sure-fire way to ensure juiciness.
Slice the grilled steak thinly and serve! We love to make Carne Asada Tacos, but you should feel free to get creative!
How To Store + Tips For Making The Best Carne Asada
Skirt steak and flank steak alike should be at a perfect medium-rare when they reach 135°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Cut the marinated grilled steak against the grain to ensure that every bite of carne asada is tender and juicy. Skirt steak and even flank steak can be tough if they’re not marinated and cut thinly against the grain.
Leftover carne asada can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days (and will be delicious!).
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Here’s The Beef
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