Sauce for Mini Meatloves

Our answer

A1 Steak Sauce is normally served with cooked meats, but Nigella uses it as as a seasoning in her Mini Meatloaves (from Nigella Express and on the Nigella website). The sauce's flavour is a mixture of fruity, tangy, sweet and sour. Although it was invented in the UK, it is most popular in the US and can be bought in most supermarkets there. In many countries it can be bought from Americzn on-line food suppliers. In the UK we have also seen it in some branches of Tesco and Ocado also sell the sauce.

The closest alternative is HP brown sauce which can be found in most UK supermarkets and can be bought from British food suppliers on-line outside of the UK. If this is also difficult to find then you could try to season the meatloaf mixture with a combination of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and soft light or dark brown sugar. Try starting with 4 tablespoons ketchup, a few drops of Worcestershire sauce and a teaspoon of sugar. You will need to taste the mixture as you go but don't do this raw! Heat a small frying pan with a little oil and fry a teaspoonful of the mixture. Let it cool and then taste it (remember that when chilled the seasoning in the meatloaves will not be so noticeable). Adjust the mixture of seasoning as you think fit and taste again, until you have a mixture that you like.