Ingredients

• 50 g tamarind paste
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup hot water, from a recently boiled kettle
• 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 1 tablespoon runny honey
• bavette steak (whole piece)

Instructions

1. Put the tamarind paste, soy and hot water into the smallest saucepan you have, and stir over a low heat to dissolve the tamarind. When it’s as smooth as you think you can get it – the tamarind paste I use says it’s without stones, but I do find the odd one, and I don’t bother to get rid of them – remove to a bowl or jug, whisk in the oil and honey, and leave to cool. Do not use until it is cold.

2. Put the bavette steak into a resealable freezer bag, pour in the cold marinade and squelch it about so that the thin steak is covered on both sides, then seal, lay on a plate and put in the fridge overnight or for 1 day.

3. Bring it back to room temperature, prepare a large piece of kitchen foil, then heat a ridged griddle till very, very hot. Lift the steak out of its marinade, letting any excess (and there will be a lot) drip back into the bag and then slap the meat on the griddle and cook for 2 minutes a side.

4. Immediately (I use tongs for all this) transfer the steak to the piece of foil and make a tightly sealed but baggy parcel, and let the meat rest, on a chopping board, or any surface that is not too cold, for 5 minutes. Then unwrap the foil, transfer the steak to a board, and carve in thin slices against the grain.

5. MAKE AHEAD NOTE: The steak can be marinated 1 day ahead. Store in fridge until needed.

6. STORE NOTE: Transfer leftover cooked steak to a container, then cool, cover and refrigerate within 2 hours. Will keep in fridge for up to 3 days.

7. FREEZE NOTE: Leftover cooked and cooled steak can be frozen, in airtight containers or resealable bags, for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in fridge before using.