Easy Chicken Satay With The Best Peanut Sauce

Satay or Grilled Meat is considered to be a national dish of Indonesia, is a popular Southeast Asian street food that is served in restaurants, and is a popular takeout option. It involves marinated meat flavored with a beautiful spice mix, which is then skewered and grilled, and then served with a simple sauce and fresh cucumbers on the side.

Depending on the region, there are countless variations of satay, with different kinds of meats, marinades, and a variety of spices. But lemongrass is one ingredient that remains consistent with almost all the versions. It's amazingly aromatic and provides the dish with a citrusy and gingery taste that is an integral part of the recipe. You can easily find it in most supermarkets or any Asian supermarket.

Chicken Satay conjures up a mental picture of perfectly grilled tender meat with a nicely charred exterior and a juicy interior, and a tantalizing crunchy peanut sauce with the ideal balance of earthen flavors, sweetness, and spices. It's called “Satay Ayam” in the Malaysian language and is a must-have on your next visit to South-East Asia!

This is an easy and authentic version of the recipe with suggested substitutes. If you wish to impress your guests without getting exhausted in the making, this is the recipe for you. Lovely charred tender chicken skewers, power-packed with amazing flavors that look incredible and are mouth-watering. Paired perfectly with a beautiful peanut sauce and fresh cucumbers that are so tempting to eat. These are the best, indeed!

Ingredients -

For the Chicken Satay-

• 1/2 kg boneless chicken cut into cubes

• Bamboo sticks soaked in water or metal skewers

• 1 cucumber cut into wedges or slices

• Oil for basting

Chicken marinade-

• 1 stalk of lemongrass, only the white portion

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 2 onions chopped

• 2 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 1 tsp coriander powder

• 1 tbsp sugar or honey

• 2 tbsp oil

• Salt to taste

For the Peanut Sauce-

• 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts

• 1 tbsp tamarind pulp

• 1 tbsp palm sugar or jaggery

• 1 tsp coriander powder

• 1/4 cup oil

• 1 tbsp sweet soy sauce

• 1 cup water

• Salt to taste

Spice Paste-

• 6 dried red chilies, soaked in water

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 onion chopped

• 1 stalk lemongrass cut into pieces, white part only

• 1/2 inch peeled galangal

Procedure-

For the Chicken Satay-

1. Blend the marinade finely in a blender or food processor. Add little water if needed.

2. Combine the chicken and the marinade well together.

3. Let the marinade sit for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.

4. Thread 4 to 5 pieces of marinated chicken cubes through the skewers. Grill the skewers over a grill pan, rotating them in between until the meat is cooked and you get a nice charred exterior.

5. Baste with oil while grilling. Your Chicken Satay is ready to be served!

For the Peanut Sauce-

1. Crush the peanuts with a mortar and pestle or a food processor. Do not grind it too fine, it should be crunchy. Set it aside.

2. Add the spice paste ingredients into a blender and grind it to a fine paste. Use water as needed.

3. In a pan heat some oil, to this add the ground spice paste. Cook it until it's aromatic and the raw smell of the spices disappears.

4. Add the ground peanuts, tamarind pulp, salt, coriander powder, palm sugar, and sweet soy sauce. Keep stirring.

5. Continue to stir it over medium-low heat for 10 minutes until the oil separates from the sauce.

6. Let the peanut sauce cool down before serving.

To serve-

Place the chicken skewers on the plate and serve it with the prepared peanut sauce and fresh cucumbers on the side. Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks-

• You can go with chicken breasts or chicken thighs for the satay.

• Lemongrass is a must as it provides a distinct taste to the dish. Do not skip it.

• The longer the meat is allowed to rest in the marinade, the more tender and flavourful it gets.

• You can bake it in an oven or air fry it for a healthier version.

• Do soak the bamboo skewers before grilling as it prevents them from burning.

• You can use ginger instead of galangal as a substitute.

• Peanut Butter can't be used as a substitute for peanuts.

• You can use a store-bought sweet soy sauce or a homemade one.

• The peanut sauce can be stored for up to a week.

• Peanut sauce can be served with multiple options like summer rolls or vegetable rolls.

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