A Killer Marinade Makes This Carne Asada Recipe a Winner (2024)

Marinade:

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons lime juice

• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 jalapeño chili pepper, seeded and minced

• 1/2 cup finely choppedfresh cilantro leaves and stems

Steak:

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds flank or skirt steak

Fixings (optional):

• Chopped avocado

• Lime wedges

• Corn or flour tortillas

• Thinly sliced radishes

• Thinly sliced lettuce

• Pico de gallo salsa

1. Marinate the steak:

   Whisk to combine the olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar, sugar, black pepper, and cumin in a large, non-reactive bowl or baking dish. Stir in the minced garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro.

   Place the steak in the marinade and turn over a couple of times to coat thoroughly.

   Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours or overnight (if using flank steak marinate at least 3 hours).

2. Preheat the grill:

   Preheat your grill for high direct heat, with part of the grill reserved with fewer coals (or gas flame) for low, indirect heat. You'll know the grill is hot enough when you can hold your hand above the grill grates for no more than one second.

   (You can also use a cast iron grill pan on high heat if cooking on the stovetop.)

3. Sear the steak:

   Remove the steak from the marinade. Lightly brush off most of the bits of cilantro and garlic (do not brush off the oil).

   Place on the hot side of the grill. Grill the steak for a few minutes only, until well seared on one side (the browning and the searing makes for great flavor), then turn the steak over and sear on the other side.

   

   

4. Move the steak to the cool side of the grill:

   Once both sides are well seared, move the steak to the cool side of the grill, with any thicker end of the steak nearer to the hot side of the grill.

   Test with a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the steak, or use your fingers (see The Finger Test to Check the Doneness of Meat). Pull the meat off the grill at 115°F to 120°F for rare, 125°F medium rare, 140°F for medium. The meat will continue to cook in its residual heat.

   Note that lean flank steak is best cooked rare, while skirt steak can be cooked well without losing moisture or flavor because it has more fat marbling.

5. Tent with foil and let rest:

   Place the steak on a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes.

6. Slice the steak across the grain:

   Use a sharp, long bladed knife (a bread knife works great for slicing meat) to cut the meat. Notice the direction of the grain of the meat and cut perpendicular to the grain. Angle your knife so that your slices are wide and thin.

   

7. (Optional) Serve with grilled tortillas:

   Warm the tortillas (corn or flour) for 30 seconds on each side in a dry skillet or on the grill, until toasty and pliable. Alternatively, you can warm tortillas in a microwave: heating just one or two at a time, place tortillas on a paper towel, and microwave them for 15 to 20 seconds each on high.

   Serve with pico de gallo (fresh tomato salsa), chopped avocados, and other fixings.

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Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.