Best Carne Asada Recipe | Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in carne asada? ›

Carne asada is typically made with skirt steak, but I wanted to test out a variety of inexpensive cuts to be sure. I bought a half dozen different cuts of beef and marinated them in a basic mixture of lime juice, garlic, cilantro, olive oil, and chiles before grilling them to medium-rare over hot coals.

Best cut of beef for Carne Asada

In Central and South America, we call pretty much any barbecued or grilled meat asado (or carne asada). The BEST cuts for the Mexican version of the dish we all know and love are either skirt steak or flank steak. Personally, I prefer skirt steak (pictured).

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.

Grill the steak over a medium-high flame for 7 to 10 minutes until it reaches 130°F for medium rare, 10 to 12 minutes until it reaches 140°F for medium.

Pour the marinade over the skirt steak in a casserole dish and cover, or place the steak in a sealable bag, then add the marinade. This marinade makes enough for about 1 pound of skirt steak. Refrigerate. Place the covered dish or bag in the fridge and marinate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

Carne Asada – Asada (or asado) means “roasted” in Spanish. Carne asada is a spicy, marinated grilled steak that's cut into strips. This is the meat that goes into burritos and tacos. Pollo Asado – Pollo means “chicken” in Spanish, which means that pollo asado is grilled, marinated chicken.

Carne Asada Tacos, on the other hand, are usually served street taco-style, with corn tortillas, sliced beef, diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Cut of Beef

Carne asada is usually made from skirt steak. Alternatives include flank steak, sirloin flap meat, or even trimmed brisket cut into 1-inch thick "steaks" and then again into thin strips. If you are planning a big party and want to have plenty for everyone, plan on up to 1 pound of meat per person.

The default is to serve carne asada in tacos, but there is no hard and fast rule that says you should only enjoy carne asada wrapped in a tortilla. Enjoy it in your favorite rice bowl with roasted vegetables, with fried eggs for breakfast, or toss it into a hash.

Information. If some of the marinade is to be used as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a portion of the marinade before putting raw meat or poultry in it. However, if the marinade used on raw meat or poultry is to be reused, make sure to let it come to a boil first to destroy any harmful bacteria.

Is carne asada healthy? ›

Key Takeaway: While there are risks to eating grilled red meat like carne asada, it can still be part of a healthy meal in the context of your overall balanced diet. Carne asada is a good source of iron, and zinc. Pair with corn tortillas, plenty of veggies, and beans for a balanced meal.

Grilling at high temperatures

Once the grill has reached 500ºF, add the steak. Cook for 2 1/2 minutes and flip. Cook for another 2 1/2 minutes and flip again. Continue to repeat this until 125ºF-130ºF internal temperature has been reached (for medium-rare), about a total of 10 minutes.

Cut carne asada steak across the grain to shorten the muscle fibers for more tender steak. Hot sauce to taste. The carne asada isn't spicy but plenty flavorful. If you are your guests like a kick, make sure to serve the steak with hot sauce on the side.

The meat is characteristically marinated in lime juice, salt, and Mexican seasonings, but may also be simply rubbed with salt or spice rubs such as lemon pepper, before grilled. After grilling it is typically chopped for filling tacos and burritos, which also minimizes toughness. Once grilled, it is called carne asada.

Key Takeaway: While there are risks to eating grilled red meat like carne asada, it can still be part of a healthy meal in the context of your overall balanced diet. Carne asada is a good source of iron, and zinc. Pair with corn tortillas, plenty of veggies, and beans for a balanced meal.

Carne Asada means “grilled beef,” specifically flank steak that's marinated, then grilled. Carne asada tacos are all about the pure, beefy flavor of grilled steak, dressed up with a delicious Mexican carne asada marinade made with lime juice, orange juice, and lots of garlic and spices.

How do you serve carne asada? The default is to serve carne asada in tacos, but there is no hard and fast rule that says you should only enjoy carne asada wrapped in a tortilla. Enjoy it in your favorite rice bowl with roasted vegetables, with fried eggs for breakfast, or toss it into a hash.