How to Cook a London Broil

There is some deliberation on whether the term ‘London broil’ relates to a cut of meat or the method of marinating which you will use prior to cooking, but a London broil is delicious either way. Usually a London broil is a lean cut of steak cooked to perfection which works great when you are on a budget. When prepared correctly, it will be just as enjoyable as a more expensive cut of steak. So, you need to learn the right way of how to cook a London broil.

Cooking a London Broil

Cooking a London broil is simple and fast and gives delicious results. It takes about 10 minutes to turn a tough cut of meat into a wonderful steak, but you need to make sure that you do not accidently overcook it. Where you cook it for too long, it can become a rubbery and leathery and not taste as good as it should. But, if done properly, the flavor and quality of the final meat will feel like a luxurious piece of beef melting in your mouth. Broiling is a fantastic method of cooking flanks of steak as it rapidly sears the exterior adding a brown crust to your piece of meat, but it still leaves the inside tender. The end result of broiling should be a perfect medium steak.

Marinating a London Broil

You need to be marinating the meat as the first step I the cooking process. Start the marinating method the night before by piercing the steak numerous times over the surface of the meat. This is critical as it aids the marinade to fully infiltrate the meat. For the marinade, do a dry rub for your meat which uses herbs and salt to tenderize the steak. You can then turn this into a liquid marinade which uses vinegar and add extra acidity using citrus to tenderize the steak. Classically, soy sauce and sweet additions like honey can also be used.

As soon as the marinade has been made, you need to let the meat have time to absorb it. Put the meat in a plastic food bag in your fridge for at least a few hours. The longer that you leave it, the nicer the flavor of your meat will become and the more tender the texture when it comes to cooking it.

London Broil Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1-pound beef flank steak
• 2 sliced onions
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 squeeze lemon juice

Instructions:

• Carve surface cuts into both sides of the steak.
• Heat the butter over a medium heat.
• Cook through the onions adding salt and butter for a couple of minutes so that they become light brown.
• Combine all other ingredients, brushing half of it all over the steak.
• Set the oven to a broil setting. Broil steak for several minutes while turning and brushing with the outstanding oil mix.
• Allow the meat to rest before carving and serving with the onions.

Cook London Broil on a Grill

A London broil is a perfect dish for summer cooking as it gives you a lot of tasty meat speedily which is fun to share with all your family. Cooking on the grill is a good way to sear on the outside of the meat while adding spicy flavor. Heat up your grill and cook over medium heat with the lid closed for several minutes while continually flipping the meat. It will be vital to marinate the meat in advance of cooking for at least a couple of hours. Remember, marinades which are full of sugar tend to burn.

Cook London Broil in the Oven

Some prefer baking instead of broiling, so you can cook London broil in your oven. You can do this slowly over many hours in a warm oven. Just add some liquid to the pan, such as broth or water to stop the steak from drying out. The advantages to cooking in the oven are many as you convey more flavor to the dish with the added extra time you give it, and the meat will be tender enough to fall-apart.

Cook London Broil on a Stove

Another simple way to cook a London broil is to use your stove. You can use a frying pan or skillet to simply heat a few tablespoons of oil and after adding your meat, you can sear it on each side. High sugar marinades are in fact great for using with this technique as you get a caramelization that is delicious. Likewise use more butter to baste the meat to add extra flavor when pan cooking.

Carving up Your London Broil

The ultimate element in preparing your London broil is to know how to carve it properly. Most meat will have fibers which run all the way through it, consequently you need to carve across the grain of those fibers. You need to seek out the strands which go from left to right across the piece of steak and then carve vertically cutting it into thin slices. You can also use a cup of your remaining marinade and simmer it on the hob as you wait for you meat to rest and then drizzle it on top before serving. Never use your left-over marinade unless you make certain that you boil it first since it will have been in contact with raw meat.

Serving Sides with London Broil

What is great about a London broil is that it is laidback to cook, and it is also useful to cook up for any occasion, which means that side dish choices are boundless. You can eat it as a light and summery dish with a green salad or new potatoes. Or, alternatively when you are wanting comfort food in your life, serve up your London broil with a side of cheesy creamy pasta. Whatever you decide to pair with your London broil, most things taste wonderful alongside this lovely and unique dish.

Sources:

1. How to Cook London Broil – How Stuff Works
2. Cheap Eats: What’s the Deal with London Broil? – The Kitchn