Carne asada is an undisputedly delicious, classic Mexican preparation for steak that looks just as beautiful as it tastes. Translating to "grilled meat," carne asada marinates flank or skirt steak in a flavorful, citrus-spiked mixture for several hours—or up to overnight—before grilling. The result is a juicy, beef-forward piece of meat with plenty of the smoky, signature char. Whether you’re incorporating it into your favorite tacos or serving it as your main dish, here’s how to perfect it:
What’s the best cut of meat for carne asada? The most common cuts used for carne asada are skirt steak or flank steak, which both have intense beefy flavor. If you can’t find skirt or flank steak, you can also make a delicious carne asada with hanger or flat iron steak. This recipe calls for skirt steak, which is a particularly forgiving cut of meat that will stay tender even when cooked past medium-rare.
The marinade. For this preparation, the marinade is as important as the meat. There are as many marinades for carne asada as there are taquerias that specialize in this dish. This recipe employs the must-haves of garlic, cilantro, citrus, and chipotle chiles in adobo. Seville oranges (or sour oranges) are the traditional choice for citrus, but they can be tough to find, especially out of season. We used a combo of lime and navel orange as an approximation, but by all means, swap them out.
How to make it. If it’s in the name, it’s a must—a grill is essential to achieving the desired results for carne asada. You can go for those beautiful diamond-patterned grill marks, but you don't need to get that fussy with it to get a delicious result. As you're grilling, don't be afraid to rotate the steak on the grill so that the char is distributed evenly on the surface of the meat, instead of concentrating it all in one place. That means more surface area is kissed by the grill, adding a bit of complexity to each and every bite.
Storage and serving. Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Use them for piling into tortillas with your favorite salsa, serving with black beans and rice, or layering into a carne asada torta.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Directions
Step 1In a food processor or blender, blend cilantro, chile, adobo sauce, scallions, garlic, lime zest and juice, orange zest and juice, oil, Worcestershire, cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Step 2Place steak into a large resealable bag and pour marinade over. Press as much air out of bag as possible and massage marinade into steak. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Step 3Prepare a grill for high heat; heat 5 minutes (or heat a grill pan over high heat). Pour a small amount of oil onto a wad of paper towels and rub grates until coated with a thin layer of oil.
Step 4Pat excess marinade from steak with paper towels; season both sides with a heavy pinch of salt and pepper.
Step 5Grill steak, turning once, until medium-rare or desired degree of doneness and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers at least 125°, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Step 6Transfer steak to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest 5 minutes. Slice against the grain into thin strips.
Step 7Arrange steak on a platter. Serve with salsa alongside.
Brooke Caison is the food editor at Delish, where she develops and styles original recipes, writes the weekly membership newsletter, and appears as occasional on-camera talent for Delish's YouTube channel. She's obsessed with the idea of bringing restaurant methods to the home cook with foolproof techniques and organized cooking (like how to safely shuck a clam or tackle a complex baking project). A graduate of ICE, she was previously a line cook, hospitality manager for the opening season of Little Island, and culinary assistant to Top Chef judge and food expert Gail Simmons. Her work has also appeared on Martha Stewart. There's no food she won’t try, but cranberry whipped feta dip has her heart.