What is London broil?
London broil refers to a thick, flat cut of beef taken from the top or bottom round. It is a tough, lean cut that benefits from marinating before being cooked quickly over high heat. The marinade helps tenderize the meat while adding extra flavor. London broil is versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes.
Grilling and broiling
One of the most popular ways to prepare London broil is by grilling or broiling. The high heat helps sear the exterior while keeping the interior moist and tender. To grill London broil:
- Coat both sides of the meat with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Preheat your grill to high heat. Place the London broil on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side for medium doneness.
- Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing against the grain into thin slices.
Broiling in the oven follows a similar process. Make sure the oven rack is set around 6 inches from the heating element. Broil for 4-6 minutes per side until cooked to your desired doneness. Rest before slicing and serving. Grilled or broiled London broil makes delicious sandwiches or can be served as an entree with roasted potatoes and vegetables.
Marinades and rubs
A flavorful marinade or dry rub helps enhance the flavor of London broil before cooking. Try soaking the meat for 2-4 hours in a marinade made with:
- Soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger for an Asian-inspired flavor.
- Red wine vinegar, rosemary, garlic, and olive oil for a Mediterranean marinade.
- Beer or cola, chili powder, cumin, garlic, and oregano for fajita or taco meat.
For a dry rub, coat the London broil evenly on both sides with a mixture of spices and herbs before cooking, such as:
- Brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Coffee grounds, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
Experiment with your favorite flavor combinations. The marinade or dry rub will permeate the meat as it cooks, adding lots of extra taste.
Steak tacos and fajitas
Thinly sliced London broil makes an excellent substitution for steak in tacos, fajitas, and nachos. Marinate the meat in a Mexican-style marinade with flavors like lime juice, cilantro, cumin, and chili powder. Grill or broil as usual. Once cooked, slice the London broil across the grain into thin strips. Serve with warmed tortillas, sautéed peppers and onions, guacamole, salsa, and other favorite taco toppings. For fajitas, wrap the sliced meat and veggies in tortillas. For nachos, pile chips with the hot sliced meat, beans, cheese, jalapeños, and more.
Stir fries and Asian dishes
The thin slices of London broil cook quickly, making them ideal for Asian stir fry recipes. Marinate the meat in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and other Asian flavors first. After cooking, slice the meat and stir fry with vegetables like bok choy, mushrooms, bell peppers, snap peas, shredded cabbage, etc. Serve over rice or rice noodles. London broil also works well in Mongolian beef, beef with broccoli, teriyaki beef skewers, and other Asian dishes.
Sandwiches
Sliced London broil makes delicious sandwich fillings, especially when topped with cheese, sautéed mushrooms or onions, chimichurri sauce, or other flavors. Try it on hoagie rolls, French bread, ciabatta, or pretzel buns. Some tasty sandwich options include:
- French dip sandwich with sliced London broil, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, and au jus for dipping.
- Philly cheesesteak style with London broil, melted provolone, sautéed peppers and onions.
- Chimichurri London broil sandwich with sliced meat, chimichurri sauce, tomato, and lettuce.
Kebabs
The lean London broil also performs well when cubed and skewered for kebabs. Soak the cubed meat in a marinade first to help keep it moist during cooking. Build the kebabs with chunks of meat alternated with vegetables like peppers, onions, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini. Brush with more marinade during grilling. Serve the kebabs over rice or with pita bread, hummus, and tzatziki sauce.
Soups and stews
While it can be tough in its whole form, London broil transforms into fall-apart tender pieces of meat when slowly simmered in soups and stews. Try using cubed or shredded London broil in dishes like:
- Beef stew
- Beef bourguignon
- Beef barley soup
- Phở (Vietnamese noodle soup)
- Tortilla soup
- Pot roast
The longer cooked time helps tenderize the meat while infusing rich flavor into the broth or sauce.
Salads
For a hearty protein-packed salad, slice London broil thinly and serve it over mixed greens, spinach, or other salad bases. Top with crumbled or blue cheese, avocado, tomatoes, peppers, and a vinaigrette dressing. You can also cook the whole piece of meat, let it cool, then slice or shred it to top salads for an easy meal prep option.
Some salad ideas:
- Steak salad with London broil, mixed greens, blue cheese, tomatoes, red onion, balsamic vinaigrette.
- Thai salad with shredded London broil, spinach, bell peppers, shredded cabbage and carrots, peanuts, cilantro, and Thai peanut dressing.
- Taco salad with sliced London broil, shredded lettuce, black beans, corn, avocado, tortilla strips, salsa dressing.
Quesadillas and flatbreads
The fast cooking time of London broil makes it perfect for quesadillas in the skillet. Cook the meat first, then slice it thinly. Sauté peppers and onions if desired. Layer the London broil and veggie fillings into tortillas with shredded cheese like Monterey jack, cheddar, or pepper jack. Cook the quesadillas in a skillet until the cheese melts and the tortilla browns on both sides. Cut into wedges to serve. Flatbreads like naan can also be topped with sliced London broil for tasty appetizers or light meals.
Kabobs and skewers
Cube London broil and thread onto skewers for flavorful kabobs and skewers on the grill. Alternate the meat with veggies like onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, pineapple, cherry tomatoes, etc. Soak bamboo skewers beforehand if using. Marinate the meat and vegetables for added flavor. Brush with extra sauce while grilling. Serve over rice, in pitas, or with chimichurri sauce.
Pizza topping
Thinly sliced or shredded London broil makes an excellent low-carb pizza topping. After cooking the meat, slice or shred it and top on pizza crusts and sauce. Add pizza toppings like peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms, etc. Sprinkle with cheese and broil or bake until melted and bubbly. London broil pizza delivers loads of flavor and protein without all the carbs of traditional pizza toppings like pepperoni or sausage.
Beef jerky
Make your own protein-packed beef jerky at home using London broil. Cut the meat into very thin strips, removing any excess fat first. Marinate the strips of meat in a jerky marinade with flavors like soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, spices, etc. Dehydrate the jerky strips in a dehydrator or low oven until chewy. Store homemade beef jerky in jars or resealable bags for healthy on-the-go snacks.
Smothered in gravy
For dishes like Salisbury steak or Swiss steak, choose London broil for its flavor and meaty texture that stands up well with gravy. Pound the meat first to help tenderize it. Sauté onions and garlic. Make a flavorful gravy or sauce and pour it over the cooked London broil. Serve Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and veggies like green beans or peas. Swiss steak is usually braised until very tender and served with egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Meatballs
Ground London broil makes great meatballs with a bold, beefy taste. Combine the ground meat with breadcrumbs or panko, egg, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Form into balls and cook by baking or pan frying until browned. Use the meatballs in pasta dishes, sandwiches, with tomato sauce, or stick a toothpick in each one for easy party appetizers.
Beef carpaccio
For an elegant appetizer to start a special meal, thinly slice raw London broil and serve as beef carpaccio. Pound the meat paper thin. Arrange the slices decoratively on a plate. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, shaved Parmesan, capers, arugula, and lemon juice. Serve with crusty bread for a sophisticated dish.
| Cooking Method | Preparation Tips |
|---|---|
| Grilling/Broiling | Coat with oil, season generously with salt and pepper. Grill or broil 4-5 minutes per side for medium doneness. |
| Marinades and Rubs | Soak meat for 2-4 hours in flavorful marinades. Or coat evenly with dry spice rub before cooking. |
| Asian Dishes | Marinate in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Stir fry sliced meat with veggies. Good in Mongolian beef or beef with broccoli. |
| Sandwiches | Top sliced London broil with cheese, onions, mushrooms, chimichurri sauce on rolls, bread, or buns. |
| Kebabs | Cube meat, thread on skewers with veggies, grill while basting with marinade. |
| Soups and Stews | Cubes or shreds of London broil become tender when simmered slowly in soups, stews, and pot roasts. |
| Salads | Slice or shred cooked London broil and serve over mixed greens, spinach, etc. Top with cheese, veggies, vinaigrette. |
| Quesadillas/Flatbreads | Fill tortillas with sliced London broil, peppers, onions, cheese. Cook in skillet until browned and cheese melts. |
| Pizza Topping | Cover pizza crust with sauce, sliced/shredded London broil, other toppings and cheese. Bake until bubbly. |
| Beef Jerky | Slice meat very thin, marinate in soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and spices. Dehydrate until chewy. |
Conclusion
With its bold beefy flavor, versatile London broil can be used in endless quick cooking applications like fajitas, stir fries, kabobs, and sandwiches. Low and slow moist cooking methods like braising in soups and stews allow this generally tough cut to become fall-apart tender. Pound thin and serve as carpaccio, or grind into meatballs or patties. However you choose to use it, London broil delivers big beef taste and nutrition. A flavorful marinade and quick hot cooking are key to getting the most out of this satisfying cut.