Indonesian · serves 2

Chicken Satay

Skewers with a peanut sauce that people will ask you about.

40 min Some work Non-vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 600g chicken, in strips
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • For the sauce: 1 cup peanuts roasted, 3 garlic cloves, 2 chillies, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp tamarind, 1 tbsp sugar, 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • Skewers

Method

  1. Marinate the chicken in coconut milk, turmeric, coriander, ginger-garlic, honey and salt for 1 hour.
  2. Thread onto soaked skewers, weaving rather than spearing so they cook evenly.
  3. Sauce: blend the roasted peanuts coarsely, then cook with garlic, chillies, soy, tamarind, sugar and coconut milk for 6 minutes until thick. Thin with water — it thickens further as it cools.
  4. Grill or pan-fry the skewers on high, 3 minutes a side, till charred at the edges.
  5. Sauce in a bowl, cucumber and raw onion alongside.

Questions people ask about Chicken Satay

How long does Chicken Satay take?

About 40 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

What can I use instead of chicken in Chicken Satay?

Use paneer, firm tofu or mushrooms. All three cook far faster than chicken, so add them in the last 5 minutes rather than at the start.

Can I make Chicken Satay ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Can I make Chicken Satay vegetarian?

Yes. Replace the chicken with paneer, firm tofu, mushrooms or soya chunks. All of them cook far faster than meat, so add them in the last five minutes rather than at the start, and keep the masala exactly as written.

What do you serve with Chicken Satay?

Sauce in a bowl, cucumber and raw onion alongside. It serves two as written. Double everything to feed four, but use a wider pan so the food still browns rather than steams.

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