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Street Food

Sate Ayam (Grilled Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce)

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30 min
Prep
15 min
Cook

Ingredients

  • 500 g chicken thigh, cubed
  • 3 tbsp kecap manis
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 150 g roasted peanuts, ground
  • 2 red chilies
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tbsp tamarind water
  • Skewers, soaked if wooden

Method

  1. Marinate the chicken cubes with kecap manis, minced garlic, and coriander powder for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers.
  3. Grill over medium-high heat, turning frequently and basting with leftover marinade, until charred and cooked through.
  4. For the sauce, blend ground peanuts with chilies, garlic, and tamarind water, thinning with warm water to a rich, pourable consistency.
  5. Serve the skewers hot with the peanut sauce spooned over or on the side.

Introduction: Sate ayam is one of Indonesia's most internationally recognized dishes: small skewers of marinated chicken grilled over charcoal and served with a rich peanut sauce.

Cultural Background: Sate ayam is one of Indonesia's most internationally recognized dishes: small skewers of marinated chicken grilled over charcoal and served with a rich peanut sauce. Found on nearly every street corner, from roving vendors carrying portable grills to sit-down warungs, it is a defining piece of Indonesian street food culture.

Tips: Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning. Keep chicken pieces a similar size for even cooking on the grill.

Variations: Sate Madura style adds a touch of petis (shrimp paste) to the peanut sauce for extra depth. Use goat or beef instead of chicken for other popular sate varieties.

Storage: Refrigerate cooked skewers and sauce separately for up to 3 days.

Reheating: Reheat skewers on a grill or in a hot pan; warm the peanut sauce gently on the stovetop.

FAQs:

Q: What is traditionally served alongside sate ayam?

A: Sate ayam is often paired with compressed rice cakes (lontong) and pickled shallot-cucumber relish.

Q: Can sate ayam be grilled indoors?

A: Yes, a ridged grill pan or broiler works well if an outdoor charcoal grill isn't available.

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