Carne asada marinade is your key to making the juiciest, most tender Mexican steak dinner! Use this marinade recipe for any cut of steak.

The Purpose of Marinating

Some steak purists say that the only seasonings a cut of steak needs are kosher salt and black pepper. In some cases, this is absolutely true. For example, as long as the quality of beef is good, I don’t think you need anything other than salt and pepper to create a spectacular grilled ribeye.

However, Carne asada steak is an exception to the “no seasoning” rule, and here’s why. The purpose of marinating is for more than just seasoning the food; it also tenderizes tougher cuts of meat.

The meat for carne asada is typically skirt steak or flank steak, and some people use flap steak.

All of these cuts of beef have cartilage and tendons running throughout the meat. Using a carne asada marinade helps to break down those fibrous connective tissues, creating asada that is juicy, tender, and loaded with flavor!  

Carne asada marinade ingredients

Thankfully, when it comes to adding flavor to a Mexican steak, you only need to use a few pantry staples. This is because the flavor from fresh and dried chile peppers does most of the work!

• Citrus juice– The acid in orange juice and lime juice aid in breaking down tough connective tissues. Plus, they add a bright flavor that compliments the spicy heat of the chile peppers. Skip the bottled juices and use fresh citrus juice; you won’t regret it!
  
• Guajillo chili peppers– These dried peppers have a medium spice level and a fruity note. If you’re unable to find guajillos, you can substitute dried ancho chiles.
  
  Because anchos have a smokier flavor, they aren’t exactly the same, but the end result will still be delicious.
  
  NOTE: You’ll need dried chilies; powdered spices don’t provide enough flavor.
  
• Serrano chili peppers– Fresh serrano chiles add brightness to the carne asada marinade, while also adding a mild punch of spicy heat. The best substitute for serrano chili peppers are jalapenos, which are just a bit milder than serranos.
  
• Fresh garlic cloves– Fresh garlic is essential for flavor. If you don’t want to use whole cloves, you can substitute jarred minced garlic.
  
• Spices– A bit of cumin, onion powder, and kosher salt complete the flavor of the carne asada seasoning.
  
• Cooking oil– Olive oil in the marinade helps everything adhere to the beef, and it also aids in creating a delicious brown crust on the steak.
  
  If you don’t have olive oil, any type of high smoke point oil will be fine. Grapeseed and avocado oil are good substitutes for olive oil.

How to make the Mexican steak marinade

KITCHEN TOOLS:
You’ll need a food processor (4 cups or larger) or a high speed blender to puree the ingredients together.

1. Prep and rehydrate the dried chilis.
   
   Before you soak the chiles, you’ll need to break them in half to remove the seeds. You’ll also need to remove and discard the stems.
   
2. Drain the water from the chiles, reserving 1/2 cup of the liquid.
   
   You’ll use the water from soaking the peppers to help thin out the marinade. If you forget to reserve some, don’t worry; you can use plain water instead.

3. Puree the ingredients to combine, then marinate the carne asada meat!

Technically, you could use the marinade for any type of meat, or even chicken, but I wouldn’t use it on lean cuts. The acid in the marinade will give lean cuts like filet mignon and top sirloin a mealy texture.

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