How Can I Stop The Sake Steak From Sticking To The Pan?

Our answer

Nigella's Sake Steak And Rice (from FEAST) takes Japanese-inspired flavours and turns them into a quick but luxurious supper. The steak is marinated in a mixture of mustard, Worcestershire and soy sauces and a little garlic oil. The steak is then cooked on a hot, ridged griddle (grill pan), or you could use a heavy-based frying pan instead.

There isn't anything in the marinade that would particularly cause the steak to stick, but if you don't have a non-stick pan then you might want to brush the steaks with a little vegetable oil before cooking them. Make sure that the pan is really, really hot before adding the steak, so that the steak starts to sear as soon as it comes into contact with the pan, as this will reduce the risk of it sticking. Cast iron pans need to be seasoned properly before they are used (most are sold already seasoned) and you shouldn't really clean then using dishwashing liquid or metal scrubbers, as this can remove the seasoning and cause food to stick. Most pans are sold with tips on how to clean and maintain the seasoning on the pan, but if not then clean the pan while it is still warm, using hot water and a non-metal scrubbing brush. Dry the pan thoroughly and wipe on a little vegetable oil before storing it.