Irresistible Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
We all know that most all meat on a stick is delicious. This Chicken Satay dish is no different!
Things to know:
What is chicken satay made of?
Known locally as sate or satay, it is usually made with chicken or beef, marinated in spices such as turmeric, coriander, and garlic, and grilled over charcoal or open flames. It is commonly served with peanut sauce, sambal, or other condiments.
What is the secret to tender chicken satay?
Chicken thighs—and always thighs, for their rich flavor and tender texture—are marinated for at least two hours.
Why is chicken satay so good?
Full of flavors like ginger, coconut, turmeric and garlic, chicken satay with peanut sauce is so scrumptious as an appetizer or light main dish. Serve it up with other light, summery Asian dishes, like a crisp cucumber salad, fresh spring rolls, and steamed rice.
What is the difference between satay and peanut sauce?
Peanut satay sauce is a type of peanut sauce, but “peanut sauce” is a broader term; satay sauce is specifically the rich, often spicier peanut-based sauce traditionally served with grilled meat skewers (satay) in Southeast Asia, while general peanut sauce can be used more broadly for salads, spring rolls, or noodles. Think of it like this: all satay sauces are peanut sauces, but not all peanut sauces are satay sauces, as they differ in ingredients like coconut milk, curry paste, lemongrass, and level of spice.
What is chicken satay served with?
Arrange your beautiful grilled chicken satay on a platter. Drizzle generously with the creamy peanut sauce. This is wonderful served with a side of steamed rice, a fresh cucumber salad, or some lightly steamed broccoli. This dish is so wonderfully versatile and full of vibrant flavors.
Is satay chicken Chinese or Thai?
Chinese Satay Chicken is not to be confused with Chicken Satay, a traditional Thai starter dish consisting of tender chicken skewers served with a peanut dipping sauce. Chinese satay chicken is a stir-fry dish popularised by traditional Chinese takeaway restaurants.
Ingredients
2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs* sliced into 1 1/2″ wide strips by 3-5″ long
3 T olive oil
1/4 cup coconut milk plus more as needed (may sub water)
1/3-1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
skewers
MARINADE/SAUCE
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 T chili paste
1 1/2 T lime juice
1 1/2 T fish sauce
1 t dried basil
1 t ground coriander
1/2 t ground ginger
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t ground turmeric
Coconut Rice
2 cups uncooked rice
3 cups coconut milk (we really like Trader Joe’s)
1. Whisk together the Marinade/Sauce ingredients in a medium bowl.
2. Remove ⅓ cup to a freezer size bag and whisk in 3 tablespoons olive oil (for the marinade). DON’T FORGET LIKE I DID!
3. Add chicken and toss to evenly coat. Marinate in the refrigerator 6 hours up to overnight. Refrigerate remaining marinade/sauce separately – this will become the base of your Peanut Sauce.
4. When ready to cook, soak wooden skewers (if using) in water for at least 30 minutes. There is no need to soak metal skewers. If you are a serious griller, you should have a nice set!
5. Meanwhile, remove chicken from refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Thread chicken onto skewers and lightly dab excess marinade off with paper towels.
6. Add your rice and coconut milk to an Instant Pot or Ninja Food, cook on high pressure for 2 minutes with a 10 minute natural release.
7. Grease grill and heat to high heat. Once hot, add chicken, reduce heat to medium, cover and grill chicken 3-4 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through (internal temp of 165 degrees F).
8. Add reserved Sauce to a small saucepan along with ¼ cup coconut milk OR 3 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat then stir in ⅓ cup peanut butter until completely combined then add additional peanut butter if desired for a thicker/more nutty sauce OR water or coconut milk 1 tablespoon at a time for a thinner sauce. Taste and add additional chili sauce if desired for a spicier sauce. You can either baste the chicken as it cooks on the grill, or serve to the side.
9. Serve chicken warm with Peanut Sauce for an appetizer or also serve with rice/veggies for a main course. ENJOY!
Equipment used:
Dyna-Glo 32-in W Stainless Steel and Black Barrel Charcoal Grill
Premium Kabob Skewers 23 inch Long
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer
DISCLOSURE: When we link to products and services, those links may be customized affiliate links. If you click on any of those affiliate links and make a purchase within a certain time frame, We’ll earn a small commission. The commission is paid by the retailers.
Here’s an example: If we link to our favorite vegetable peeler, and you click on that link and complete a purchase within the next 24 hours, we may receive a commission somewhere between 1 to 10 percent of your total order.
We are careful to link to products and retailers that we use ourselves and recommend. These affiliate programs use cookies to track visits for the purposes of assigning commission on these sales. Money earned keeps Galley of the Sun running and allows us to do what we love.
Thank you for your support.
SELECT AFFILIATE PROGRAM DETAILS: We are currently members of affiliate programs with Amazon and Dalstrong. We are eligible to earn from qualifying purchases.