Next up in my exploration of Mexican meats is a classic that is perfect for the warming weather, carne asada or grilled steak. Carne asada can be as simple as grilling up a steak seasoned with salt and pepper or it can be marinated with a number of different marinades. Marinades for carne asada often contain lime juice which helps to tenderize the steak which is commonly a flank steak or a skirt steak. I like a mojo style marinade with a base or orange and lime juice that is seasoned with garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, cumin and oregano which, although simple makes for some really tasty steak! Carne asada is typically cooked well done but I prefer mine a nice moist and tender, medium-rare. Of course carne asada can be used in a number of dishes from tacos to fajitas to burritos to salads, etc.
Just look at all of that perfectly grilled medium-rare steak!
Carne Asada
Steak marinated in a tasty Mexican mojo sauce and then grilled to perfection before being sliced thinly and served as you like.
ingredients
- 1 1 lb flank steak
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1/4 cup orange juice (~1 orange)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (~1 lime)
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno, finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
directions
- Marinate the steak in the mixture of the remaining ingredients for 1-8 hours.
- Grill the steak over medium-high heat, about 2-4 minutes per side for medium-rare, remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing it thinly across the grain.
Ai says
May 3, 2013 at 1:25 pmThat steak looks PERFECT!!
Tieghan says
May 3, 2013 at 1:25 pmYes!! These are just what I have been searching for!! My family will LOVE these!
isaiah43123 says
May 3, 2013 at 1:50 pmI am not one for medium-rare but Oh my, my mouth is watering. With summer-like weather expected this weekend, this will definitely be on the menu.
Maria says
May 3, 2013 at 2:25 pmPerfect summer meal!
marla says
May 3, 2013 at 2:46 pmI love steak!! This looks great Kevin 🙂
Heather Christo says
May 3, 2013 at 2:59 pmthis looks wonderful Kevin!
Gaby says
May 3, 2013 at 6:58 pmperfect for this weekends festivities! 🙂
Anonymous says
May 4, 2013 at 10:37 pmAmazing looking flank steak.
Anonymous says
July 28, 2013 at 9:29 amThat's more like fajitas, as in little belts. Faja translates to belt. Most asada meat I come across is chopped into very tiny pieces. I hate ordering asada and getting fajitas instead.
Mark Bloom says
November 6, 2013 at 7:44 pmThank looks great! Flank steak + Carne Asada = Perfection. One of my favorite combinations. Thank you
carne asada el centro says
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Anonymous says
March 1, 2014 at 1:36 amhave you ever made chicken and beans like ell polllo restaurant makes I miss there chicken and beans
kevin says
March 8, 2014 at 6:55 pmAnonymous: I have never been there, can you describe the dish a bit more?
Anonymous says
May 12, 2014 at 8:37 pmHere's a close recipe to El Pollo fire grilled chicken recipe
2 cups water
4tsp salt
2tsp pepper
1 garlic clove (I mince mine)
¼ tsp ground saffron
4 tablespoons pineapple juice
3 teaspoons lime juice
Chicken for grilling (bone in)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend for 15 seconds
Marinade the chicken for at least 45 minutes, turning halfway through
• I marinade mine overnight and complete immerse it in marinade that way I don’t need to worry about turning it.
Cook chicken on an open grill for 45 minutes or until the skin is brown and crispy. Make sure the flames are scorching the chicken or the skin will burn before the chicken is done. I sear mine over high heat then cook it indirectly. I leave one side of the grill on high then put the chicken on the other side with little to no flame and shut the lid.
As always, check your chicken to make sure it is done before eating it. All grills cook differently.
Alissa Scharf says
May 27, 2014 at 2:12 pmI made this for our annual Memorial weekend getaway for 18 people. We had 6lbs of flank steak, so I adjusted everything. I marinated it in ziplocks for about 48 hours and it was AMAZING!! I didn't change a thing!
Anonymous says
August 7, 2014 at 2:22 amThe moment you put cumin in the recipe it is no longer Mexican. It become Tex-Mex., Mexican food's degenerate cousin. Save it for the gringos.