Ingredients:
- 8 large cloves Fresh Garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/2 medium White Onion, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup packed Fresh Cilantro (Coriander), use stems and leaves
- 1 medium Jalapeño Pepper, halved, seeds removed (optional)
- 1/2 cup Fresh Orange Juice
- 1/4 cup Fresh Lime Juice (approx. 3-4 limes)
- 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Mexican Lager (or Pale Ale), optional
- 2 Tbsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Tbsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano (Mexican preferred)
- 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Instructions:
- Roughly chop the garlic, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño.
- Place the garlic, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper into the blender or food processor bowl.
- Pulse several times until the aromatics are coarsely chopped and fragrant, forming a rough paste. The mixture should retain some texture.
- Pour in the fresh orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, and optional lager.
- Pulse or blend until the marinade is well combined. Taste a tiny drop and adjust salt if necessary.
- Pour the marinade into a large Ziplock bag or non-reactive container. Place the skirt or flank steak into the marinade, ensuring it is fully submerged. Lightly score thicker cuts.
- Seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, ideally 6–8 hours. Do not exceed 10 hours, as the high acid content will damage the texture of the beef.
- 30–45 minutes before grilling, remove the meat from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for even cooking.
- Remove the steak from the marinade, pat it thoroughly dry with paper towels (crucial for a great crust!), and discard all remaining marinade. The steak is now ready for the grill.