A London broil is method of cooking steak which does not have a specific cut. Sometimes, a cut of meat is referred to as “London Broil” when you buy them in the supermarket. But generally, this type of cut is a flank steak. A good substitute for a flank steak is a round roast or other cuts that you prefer. Your choice of cut would normally depend on your preference and budget. As the name suggests, a London Broil is often broiled. However, there are several ways where you could cook a London Broil. But whatever method you are going to choose, it always involves a marinade.
Preparing a London broil usually involves marinating it. In almost all types of dishes that involve a marinade; added flavor will be infused to the meat making it more tender. You can leave the marinated meat on the refrigerator for at least a few hours. If possible, leave it on for 24 hours to achieve maximum absorption of the marinade mix. A typical London broil marinade includes red wine, vinegar and seasonings. You can also add garlic or Worcestershire sauce to your marinade to add more flavor. Discard the marinade once you are done marinating because it is mixed with raw meat juices. Make a fresh marinade mix if you prefer your London broil to have more sauce at time of cooking.
It is important to tenderize your steak before cooking. Aside from marinating, your steak can also be tenderized by using a meat mallet. Pounding it with a meat mallet will give your steak a very good texture. If you marinate your steak overnight, using a meat mallet is no longer necessary.
Once you are done marinating and tenderizing your steak, preheat your broiler. After you place the steak on the broiling pan, position the pan on the top of the oven rack. Give an approximate space of about 3 inches between the pan and the heat. If you prefer your steak to be medium done, cook each side for about 5 to 8 minutes flipping only once. Cooking your London broil to medium rare produces the best flavor. Avoid overcooking it because it will make your steak too tough. It should be served with some pink left in the center of the meat.
Another way of cooking your London broil is to grill it. You can use the same marinade in grilling. Using high heat, grill the marinated steak like the way you would with charcoal. Each side would take about 5 to 8 minutes depending on your preferred doneness. Flip it only once to get the best grilled result.
In serving your London broil, let your steak rest for about 5 minutes after cooking. Resting it allows the juice to set in. This will produce a beautiful juice when you cut the steak. When cutting, go against the grain and make thin slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
London broil is known as one of the best ways to cook steak. If you have leftovers, use it in your stir-fry dishes.
