Chicken Satay (Authentic and the Best Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Delicious chicken satay or grilled chicken skewers marinated with spices and served with peanut sauce. Easy, authentic and the best chicken satay recipe you'll find online!

Chicken Satay (Authentic and the Best Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

Chicken Satay (Authentic and the Best Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

Table of Contents

Satay

Satay or chicken satay conjures up a mental picture of perfectly grilled and nicely charred chicken skewers with mouthwatering peanut sauce.

Chicken satay is one of the most popular Asian appetizers and everyone loves them.

Now, how to make chicken satay at home?

It’s very easy and I have an authentic and the best chicken satay recipe for you, including the recipe for satay sauce!

My chicken satay recipe has been tried and tested by many readers. They are absolutely mouthwatering and delightful. Enjoy!

Chicken Satay (Authentic and the Best Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

Other Recipes You Might Like

  • Peanut Sauce
  • Beef Satay
  • Pork Satay
Chicken Satay (Authentic and the Best Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (4)

Malaysian Chicken Satay Is the Best!

There are many versions of satay recipes from Asia, but let me assure you that the best satay in the world comes from Malaysia, my home country.

Called “Satay Ayam” in Malaysian language, any real foodies who have been to the entire Southeast Asia region will agree they are the best!

While Thai chicken sate are tasty, they are inferior to the scrumptious and rich flavors of Malaysian chicken satay.

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Chicken Satay Marinade

The marinade is the most important part of the recipe. The best satay are marinated with lots of spices and ingredients, such as the following:

  • Lemongrass
  • Garlic
  • Shallots
  • Turmeric powder
  • Coriander powder
  • Chili powder
  • Salt and sugar

Traditionally, home cooks pound all the ingredients above with a mortar and pestle until it becomes a fine paste.

Mix the meat (either chicken, beef or mutton) with the marinade overnight to ensure that that every skewer is s bursting with robust flavors.

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Peanut Satay Sauce

This dipping sauce is a must for satay. To make the sauce, please check out my peanut sauce recipe.

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Cooking Tips

For the best and most authentic flavors, please follow my secrets and techniques below:

  • You can use a combination of chicken breasts, chicken thighs and legs. Cut each piece of the chicken meat into uniform pieces.
  • Marinate the chicken overnight with the marinade for deeper flavors.
  • Soak the bamboo skewers in water for at least two hours. This will prevent the bamboo skewers from burning on the grill.
  • Use a pair of scissors to snip off the over charred and burned bits on the satay.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicken Satay Healthy?

Yes, satay is very healthy as the spices used in the marinade have a lot of nutrients and health benefits, for example: turmeric.

Can You Bake in the Oven?

You can certainly bake satay in the oven, or pan-fried on a skillet. They will taste delicious.

Can I Pan Fry on Skillet?

Yes, you can. For the best result, use a cast-iron grill pan to pan fry and cook on the stove top.

Can I Freeze Uncooked Chicken Satay?

Yes, you can. Just wrap uncooked and raw skewers with a few sheets of aluminum foil tightly and freeze in the freezer.

Thaw them at room temperature before grilling.

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How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe serves six people and the calories are 263 per serving.

What to Serve with Chicken Satay Skewers?

They are best served with Peanut sauce, sliced cucumber and cut onions. The cucumber and onion clean the palate between each skewer.

In Malaysia and Indonesia, rice cakes or ketupat are common. The rice cakes are cut into bite-sized cubes for serving.

If you are having an outdoor grilling or BBQ party, I recommend the following recipes.

Peanut Sauce

Shrimp Kebab

Asian BBQ Wings

Grilled Corn on the Cob

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Chicken Satay (The Best Recipe!)

Deliciouschicken satayor grilled chicken skewers marinated with spices and served with peanut sauce. Easy, authentic and the bestchicken satay recipeyou'll find online!

4.55 from 355 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 6 people

Prep 50 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 1 hour hr

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs (1kg) boneless and skinless chicken thigh and leg meat
  • Bamboo skewers (soaked in cold water for 2 hours)
  • 1 cucumber (cut into small pieces)
  • 1 small onion (quartered)
  • oil (for basting)

Chicken Satay Marinade:

  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 2 stalks lemongrass (white parts only)
  • 2 cloves garlic (peeled)
  • 6 small shallots or pearl onions (peeled)
  • 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon salt or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons sugar or honey

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken meat into small cubes. Set aside.

  • Blend all the he Marinade ingredients in a food processor. Add a little water if needed.

  • For the chicken satay dipping sauce, please click here: Recipe

  • Combine the chicken and the Marinade together, stir to mix well. Marinate the chicken for 6 hours in the fridge, or best overnight. When ready, thread 3-4 pieces of the chicken meat onto the bamboo skewers.

  • Grill the chicken satay skewers for 2-3 minutes on each side until the meat is fully cooked, and the surface is nicely charred, on both sides. Baste and brush with some oil while grilling. Serve hot with peanut sauce, the fresh cucumber pieces and onions.

    Chicken Satay (Authentic and the Best Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (14)

Notes

Watch the cooking video on this page for step-by-step guide.

If you prefer white meat, you can use 2 lbs. or 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.

Click for Peanut Sauce recipe.

Course: Malaysian Recipes

Cuisine: Chicken

Keywords: Chicken Satay

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Satay (The Best Recipe!)

Amount Per Serving (6 people)

Calories 263Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 144mg48%

Sodium 727mg32%

Carbohydrates 13g4%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 31g62%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Chicken Satay (Authentic and the Best Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between satay and Malaysian satay? ›

The Malaysian version is sweeter than the Indonesian version and the recipes seems to have more spices and heavier use of lemongrass and fresh turmeric. Our peanut satay sauce is thicker and richer than that in Thailand or Indonesia.

Is satay Malaysian traditional food? ›

Origin and history. Although both Thailand and Malaysia claim it as their own, its Southeast Asian origin was in Java, Indonesia. There satay was developed from the Indian kebab brought by the Muslim traders. Even India cannot claim its origin, for there it was a legacy of Middle Eastern influence.

What is the difference between Chinese and Thai satay? ›

The Chinese take out version of Chicken in Satay Sauce is quite different from Malaysian, Thai and Indonesian Satay Sauce. It's less coconut-y and less peanut-y (are they real words??), doesn't have bits of crushed peanuts in the sauce, and has a stronger flavour from satay seasoning.

What nationality is chicken satay? ›

Indonesia is thought to be the true birthplace of satay, but the dish was carried to surrounding countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and others. The most popular satay is chicken or pork satay, but beef is also used as well as tofu satay.

Why does satay taste so good? ›

A true Malaysian satay sauce is sweet, savory, spicy, acidic, aromatic, and nutty all at the same time. Its depth of flavor comes from a strong core of Southeast Asian ingredients: shallots, chilis, garlic, lemongrass, and galangal.

Which country is famous for satay? ›

Sate (or more commonly known as Satay) is undoubtedly one of Indonesia's most famous dishes. It is also one of those dishes that most South East Asian countries claim as their own.

What is Malaysia's national dish? ›

Nasi lemak is a dish originating in Malay cuisine that consists of fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. It is commonly found in Malaysia, where it is considered as the national dish.

What is the most famous Malaysian dish? ›

1. Nasi Lemak. Nasi Lemak Nasi Lemak (literally, “rice and coconut”) is a popular Malaysian dish consisting of steamed rice and grated fresh coconut, served on banana leaves. The hearty dish is often served for breakfast or lunch.

What does satay mean in Malay? ›

Satay (or sate) is a dish of marinated meats traditionally skewered onto the midrib of the coconut leaf and served with a peanut sauce. Malay Satay blend is sweet, fresh and warm, evoking the sunny joy of feasting on sticks of smoky succulent meat with friends and family.

Which cut of beef is best for satay? ›

Here are my tips for getting this beef satay to come out perfectly.
  1. What cut of beef to use. For starters, you'll want to use flank steak or skirt steak. ...
  2. Marinating is the key. You should also marinate for at least one hour at room temperature. ...
  3. Secret weapon. ...
  4. Skewers.
Aug 31, 2018

Is satay served with peanut sauce or soy sauce? ›

It is usually added to main ingredients (meat or vegetable) to add taste, used as dipping sauce such as sambal kacang (a mixture of ground chilli and fried peanuts) for otak-otak or ketan or as a dressing on vegetables. Satays are commonly served with peanut sauce.

Is Malaysian satay sweet? ›

Satay is one of the most popular and delicious of all Asian 'street food' meals. Skewers of chicken, pork or beef are marinated with spices and soy sauce, then grilled. And then they are coated in a wonderfully nutty, sweet and spicy sauce.

What is satay in English? ›

Satay is pieces of meat cooked on thin sticks and served with a peanut sauce.

What is chicken satay in English? ›

Satay, considered to be a national dish of Indonesia, is a popular Southeast Asian street food that usually involves a marinated meat being skewered and grilled, then served with a simple saucy dip.

What is satay Malaysia? ›

Satay is one of the Malay cuisines introduced in Java, Indonesia. It is known to be inspired by kebab, the internationally renowned cuisine in Arab and Middle Eastern countries. Satay is a street food made of marinated meat grilled on bamboo skewers with a sauce. It can be chicken, mutton, beef, pork, or other meats.

What is the difference between Thai and Indonesian satay? ›

The satay meats popularly used by Indonesians and Malaysians, mutton and beef, are also traditionally favoured by Arabs however, in Thailand or China the natives prefer pork and chicken.

Why is the difference between satay Padang and normal satay? ›

Sate Padang

You can see the difference of the three by looking at the sauce. Sate Padang has spicy flavor because the sauce is made from peanut sauce and chilies. Sate Padang Panjang tastes not too spicy and the sauce has yellow in color, while the sauce of Sate Padang Pariaman has spicier flavor and the color is red.

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