Carne asada—a dish of grilled steak marinated in lime juice—is a signature of Northern Mexico, and also you’ll discover variations throughout the nation. Most carne asada recipes begin by marinating a lean reduce of beef (like flank, skirt, or flap steak) in a combination of lime and orange juices, dried chiles, and spices. Right here, we take a special strategy. Our recipe begins with a dry rub of chile powder, black pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and brown sugar; the sugar tenderizes the steak and, as soon as it hits the warmth, caramelizes into a good looking crust. Citrus, nonetheless, can flip bitter when uncovered to the fireplace, so wait till after grilling to brush the meat with an intensely citrusy dressing, constructed from all the same old carne asada marinade substances.
Cook dinner the steak on an out of doors grill, ideally charcoal, for large smoky taste. If that’s not an choice, get a cast-iron grill pan ripping scorching on the stovetop and sear away. Both method, use a meat thermometer or cake tester to check the steak’s doneness, and after it rests, slice the meat towards the grain for essentially the most tender chunk.
Requiring minimal cooking and prep time, this simple recipe is a superb staple to have in your rotation—particularly round grilling season. Tuck slices of the grilled meat into flour or corn tortillas for carne asada tacos, or make burritos filled with pico de gallo, guacamole, thinly sliced jalapeño, and recent cilantro. Pile leftovers on a mattress of tortilla chips for an epic plate of nachos, or go for the San Diego basic carne asada fries.
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