Authentic Chicken Sateh Recipe

Appetizers
Written By Joel Ide

A fast, old-school street food, this dish can be found all over Malaysia and Indonesia. Its origins seem to point back to Java in Indonesia, where the concept of kebabs was brought by Muslim traders from India and Arab countries. Peanuts were introduced by Spanish and Portuguese explorers and they thrived in the tropical climate, which is why they are used in so many garnishes and sauces today.

Authentic Chicken Sateh served with dipping sauce.

Authentic Chicken Sateh served with dipping sauce.


SERVES: 4  COOKING TIME: 40 MINUTES PLUS MARINATING

INGREDIENTS

Dipping Sauce

  • 1/4 cup red curry paste

  • 1 cup coconut cream

  • 1 cup coconut milk

  • 1/2 cup ground roasted peanuts (or 6 spoons of peanut butter)

  • 1/4 cup tamarind juice

  • Salt (to taste)

  • Sugar (to taste)

Chicken Skewers

This recipe uses chicken but you can use pork or beef.

  • 500 grams chicken fillets or thighs

  • 2 tsp. ground roasted coriander seeds

  • 1/2 tsp. ground roasted cumin seeds

  • 1 tsp. finely chopped galangal

  • 1 heaped tbsp. finely chopped lemon grass

  • 1 tsp. turmeric

  • 1/4 tsp. ground paper

  • 1 tsp. salt

  • 2 tsp. sugar

  • 1/2 cup coconut cream

  • Wooden Skewers

How to make Sateh sauce

  1. Mix the peanuts and the red curry paste together well.

  2. Heat the coconut cream in a wok until the oil surfaces; then add the peanut-curry paste and stir and turn to mix well. Add the remaining coconut milk and reduce the heat. Continue to stir regularly.

  3. Add the tamarind juice and season to taste with sugar and salt. When the sauce has thickened spoon into a serving bowl

How to make Chicken Skewers

  1. Cut the chicken into thin slices about 1 inch wide and 2 inches long.

  2. Pound the coriander seeds, cumin, galangal, lemon grass, turmeric, salt and pepper into a mortar until finely ground. Pour over the meat along with the sugar and the coconut cream (or blitz all in a blender to make a paste). Mix thoroughly and set aside to marinate in the fridge for 2 hours, but preferably over night.

  3. If you’re using a barbecue, get it going 1 hour before you want to cook. If you’re using a griddle pan, cut your wooden skewers to fit and preheat the pan.
    Tip. Soak your skewers in water for 5 minutes before skewering meat to reduce burning.

  4. Skewer the meat strips length-ways and cook over a medium charcoal fire/griddle pan for bout 15 minutes, turning regularly and brushing occasionally with the remaining marinade.

  5. Serve with sauce and enjoy!

Joel Ide
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