London Broil

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Total time: 20 minutes, plus 1 to 8 hours for marinating; active time: 20 minutes This recipe doubles easily if you wish to prepare two steaks instead of one. Use leftovers in a steak sandwich or as a topper for a main-dish green salad.

IT IS POSSIBLE to have beef that’s tender but also affordable; just start with a less expensive cut and add a marinade. I like the flavor and texture of flank steak prepared London broil style; but other options are top round, top sirloin, and shoulder roasts.

Combine a few basic ingredients – oil, herbs, and an acidic ingredient (vinegar, citrus fruit juices, or wine) – in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag. To save time, you can simply use Italian salad dressing, or mix together 1 cup vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, and 1 minced clove garlic. Marinate beef at least 30 minutes, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook over hot coals. Remember – for tender steak, do not cook beyond medium rare. Overcooking toughens the meat.

- Judy Feagin

What Is London Broilr

London broil is defined as a flank steak from the lower hindquarters of the cow, which is marinated and then broiled or grilled. Some claim it was first served in London in 1931; others say its origins are American and the name is a matter of creative license. The term is also used somewhat loosely to describe thick cuts of meat such as top round and sirloin.

Ingredients

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper

2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1-1/2 pounds flank steak

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except steak in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag.

Score steak by making ⅛-inch-deep diagonal slashes across the meat in two different directions to create a diamond pattern on both sides of the meat. Add steak to marinade; seal and chill at least 1 hour or overnight. (If you wish to reserve some of the marinade to use as a basting sauce, do so before adding the steak; see box, “Tips for Marinating.”)

Remove steak from marinade, reserving ¼ cup marinade. Boil reserved marinade 5 minutes to kill any bacteria; use as a basting sauce. Grill steak, covered with grill lid, over high heat (400° to 500°) 5 minutes on each side or to desired degree of doneness, basting occasionally. Remove from grill; let steak stand covered for 5 minutes. (To broil, place steak on a rack in a broiler pan. Broil 3 to 5 inches from heat for 5 minutes on each side or to desired degree of doneness.)

Slice steak diagonally across grain into thin strips.

TIPS FOR MARINATING

Marinate beef in heavy-duty zip-top plastic bags or in covered glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers. Do not marinate in aluminum containers, which can impart “off” flavors.

Marinate meats in the refrigerator.

To tenderize tough cuts of meat, marinate overnight. Thick cuts, such as top round, can marinate up to 48 hours. (If you just want to add flavor, marinate 30 minutes to 2 hours.)

Add roughly 1 cup marinade for 1-½ pounds of beef. If the marinade doesn’t completely cover the beef, turn beef every couple of hours.

When marinating a flank steak, cut diagonal slashes on both sides of the meat to allow the marinade to penetrate more quickly. For thicker cuts of beef, prick the meat all over with the tines of a fork.

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