The Best Asian Steak Marinade

What’s in This Recipe?

The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.

• Ponzu — A citrus-infused soy sauce and is easily found in most grocery stores. Soy sauce with juiced lemon, lime, or orange can be used instead.
• Oil — We’re using a blend of sesame and canola oil to lock in moisture and deliver big flavor.
• Rice wine vinegar — Not to be confused with rice wine! This delicately flavored vinegar breaks down the tough muscle fibers in the steak in a short amount of time.
• Ginger — Freshly grated ginger will give the steak a more aromatic flavor.
• Honey — Adds a more interesting sweetness than just plain white sugar.
• Garlic — You’ll need three fat cloves, pressed or minced.
• Crushed red pepper flakes — Won’t make the Asian-style steak spicy, just flavorful.

What Cut of Steak Is Best for Marinating?

Leaner cuts of steak like flank steak, hangar steak, or flap steak are the prime candidate for this style of marinade.

A good cut of meat (like our favorite filet mignon) can also be marinated, but we prefer to keep them pure, maybe with some added flavor of butter, garlic and thyme. If you do want to try it on a thicker cut of meat (like a ribeye), allow for at least 8 hours for the sauce to infuse.

How Long Should You Marinate Steak?

After whisking together the marinade, transfer it to a zip-top bag or airtight container and submerge the steak. Place in the fridge and marinate for a minimum of 15 minutes, but the steak is fine to sit in the marinade for up to 12 hours.

Heidi’s Tip: I’d avoid letting the steak sit longer than a day in the marinade because the muscle fibers will break down too much and become soft and mushy.

Ways to Serve This Steak

The beauty of this steak is that it not only makes a meal, it can prep a few for the week too. Simply cook the steak and save the leftovers for these ideas through the week:

• Steak Ramen Noodles: This easy-breezy stir-fry is made with chewy ramen noodles, slices of Asian marinated steak, and your choice of veg. It takes 30 minutes to make, so it’s a great choice for weeknights.
• Asian Steak Tacos: Add steak to 4-inch warmed flour tortillas with shredded cabbage or Korean Slaw, avocado, and sweet and sour pickled cucumbers. Drizzle with sour cream spiked with lime juice and cilantro and extra Asian master sauce if desired.
• Asian French Dip Sandwiches: Add sliced steak to sliced onion, red and green peppers and mushrooms sautéed in a bit of oil and 3-4 tablespoons of Asian master sauce and served in toasted French rolls and dip in beef stock accented with a bit more master sauce for even more Asian flavor-flave.