Behind the Seasoning: Carne Asada

As huge fans of grilling, we’re all about recipes that bring people together to enjoy food and each other’s company. After all the fun we had with Chimichurri Churrasco last summer (good news: it will be back later this summer), we turned once again to Central and South American grilling traditions for inspiration for our newest summer seasoning star: Carne Asada Spice & Easy. 

What is Carne Asada?

Translated literally, carne asada means roast meat. Functionally, it’s a Mexican style of grilled steak, usually of the skirt, flap, or flank variety. The chosen beef is marinated in a mixture of citrus juice and spices, grilled over flames or charcoal for extra char and flavor, and served sliced on its own or as a base for a wide variety of dishes. 

Much like American barbecue, Mexican carne asada has grown from a dish to an event itself. Inviting family and friends over to grill up a steak in the backyard is referred to as an asado, named directly after the dish often at the center of the table. A dish so flavorful and beloved that it gets a whole party named after it? Count us in!

Our version of carne asada gets its earthy base from cumin, coriander, and Mexican oregano; familiar bite from garlic and black pepper; and a hint of heat from a blend of chiles. When combined with orange and lime juice, cilantro, and a hint of soy sauce, it creates a marinade that hits all the boxes: fresh, bright, warming, and endlessly craveable.

What Does Carne Asada Taste Like?

A good carne asada marinade shouldn’t cover up the taste of the steak–instead, the blend of flavors in the marinade should highlight the natural juicy, beefy flavors of your cut of meat. To put it simply: carne asada should taste like steak!

Our Carne Asada Spice & Easy mix features a unique blend of chiles that add complex flavor to the marinade. Chipotle chiles give a smokiness and gentle heat. Pasilla negro chiles give a slight raisiny sweetness. Ancho chiles add an earthy fruitness. A touch of cayenne chiles rounds out the chile blend for familiar warmth. Don’t fear–even with all of these chiles, the heat level of the final dish comes out mild and family friendly!

Carne Asada Spice & Easy highlights the natural flavors of steak with classic steak seasonings like garlic, black pepper, and herbs. Every element of the marinade is carefully chosen to take the steak to the highest level: orange and lime juice for a bright, acidic tang; chiles for a mild, warming heat that compliments smokiness from the grill; soy sauce for an umami seasoning; and fresh cilantro for essential herbiness. The full effect is a bold, citrusy final dish perfect for any summer spread.

What Other Flavors Pair Well with Carne Asada?

Carne asada is a great addition to a variety of dishes: tacos, gorditas, nachos, loaded fries, or even just on its own. Top with pico de gallo, guacamole, or sour cream, and serve with rice and beans for classic flavor combinations. To shake it up, try carne asada sliced on top of a salad or skewered with veggies. There’s really no wrong way to eat it!

Carne Asada Spice & Easy also pairs perfectly with another Savory summer favorite: Mexican Street Corn Seasoning. Look for Mexican Street Corn Seasoning to hit the shelves on the first day of summer, and prepare to pair your steak with perfectly seasoned elotes!

How to Use Carne Asada

Our Carne Asada Spice & Easy is, well, nice and simple: combine the Meal Starter Spice Mix with the marinade ingredients, add your steak, and once those two have hung out for a few hours, grill the steak to your preferred level of doneness. For a quick steak cookery primer: 125 degrees for rare, 130 degrees for medium-rare, 140 degrees for medium, 150 degrees for medium-well, and 160 degrees for well done. An instant read meat thermometer is your best friend in grilling, and will save you the hassle of ever eating an imperfect steak again.

Where & How to Buy Carne Asada

Carne Asada is available from Savory Spice online or in store for a limited time this summer. Order online for convenience, or pop into your local Savory Spice store to chat with Spice Merchants about their favorite ways to use Carne Asada Spice & Easy. While you’re at it, grab a well-marbled steak directly from a butcher or a Mexican market for the best beef flavor experience. Go for something thinner so it cooks up quickly, like skirt steak, flank steak, or flap steak. 

Recipes Using Carne Asada

For classic carne asada preparations, try: 

• Carne Asada Fries: nachos but make it fries! Top a basket of seasoned fries with steak and other toppings.
• Carne Asada Tacos: make Carne Asada Spice & Easy per the package instructions, slice up, and serve in street taco tortillas with your favorite toppings. 

Not feeling steak tonight? We can’t relate, but we’ve got you covered anyway. 

• Quinoa Asada Grain Salad features black bean falafel-esque fritters seasoned with Carne Asada Spice & Easy for a plant-based carne asada protein source. 

However you’re eating your carne, it’s definitely going to need sides.

• Adobo Rice makes a perfect quick grain to serve with carne asada.
• Try a Beachside Fruit Cup as a side or dessert–chile-spiced sweetness pairs perfectly with the smoky warmth of Carne Asada Spice & Easy.