Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce)
In short: Marinated chicken thigh threaded on bamboo skewers, grilled until charred at the edges and served with a warm, sweet and spicy peanut sauce. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 570 kcal
Sate ayam is one of Indonesia's national dishes, sold by vendors who fan charcoal grills on street corners from afternoon until late night. Small cubes of chicken thigh are marinated in shallot, garlic and sweet soy sauce, grilled until lightly charred, then served with a thick peanut sauce, sliced raw shallots and rice or rice cakes. Thigh meat is the key to juicy skewers.
Instructions
- Soak about 20 bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes so they do not burn on the grill.
- Blend the shallots, garlic, coriander, turmeric, kecap manis, oil, salt and lime juice into a paste. Coat the chicken and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
- For the sauce, blend the shallots, garlic and chilies. Fry the paste in the oil over medium heat for 3 minutes until fragrant.
- Grind the peanuts coarsely in a food processor and add them to the pan with the sugar, tamarind, kecap manis, water and salt. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until thick and glossy.
- Thread 4 or 5 pieces of chicken tightly onto each skewer, leaving the lower end bare for a handle.
- Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the skewers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, until charred in spots and the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Serve the skewers hot with the warm peanut sauce, raw shallots, lime wedges and rice.
Tips
- Thin the sauce with a splash of hot water if it thickens while standing, and reheat it before serving. Smooth peanut butter (150 g) can replace the roasted peanuts in a pinch.
- To use the oven, broil the skewers on a rack 10 cm (4 in) from the heat for 12 minutes, turning once. Wrap the bare ends in foil to stop them scorching.
Questions and answers
Can I marinate satay overnight?
Yes, up to 12 hours in the fridge gives deeper flavor. Beyond that the lime juice can make the chicken mushy, so skip the lime if you plan to marinate longer.
What is the difference between Indonesian and Thai satay?
Indonesian sate usually uses a sweet soy marinade and a peanut sauce with kecap manis, chili and tamarind. Thai satay tends to use a coconut milk and curry spice marinade.
Can I freeze chicken satay?
Freeze raw marinated skewers for up to 2 months, then thaw in the fridge and grill. Make the peanut sauce fresh or freeze it separately for up to 1 month.
How long does it take to make Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce)?
About 570 kcal per serving, with 45 g of protein, 27 g of carbohydrates and 32 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 570 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 45 g |
| Carbohydrates | 27 g |
| Fat | 32 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
