Chicken Satay (Skewers So Good, You’ll Skip the Main Course)

Satay is proof that chicken on a stick can be life-changing. Turmeric-kissed, coconut milk-marinated skewers grilled until slightly charred. The real star? That rich, spicy peanut sauce for dipping. Fire up the grill. Let’s skewer.

Ingredients

Serves 4 as an appetizer or 2 as a main.

For the Chicken Satay:

  • 1½ lbs (675g) chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch strips
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400ml) coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ginger, grated
  • Wooden skewers (soaked in water 30 minutes)

For the Peanut Sauce:

  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp red curry paste (or sriracha)
  • ¼ cup water (to thin)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Marinate Chicken

  1. Whisk coconut milk, fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, turmeric, coriander, garlic, and ginger.
  2. Add chicken. Toss to coat. Cover and marinate 2–8 hours (longer = better).

Step 2: Make Peanut Sauce

  1. Whisk peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, and curry paste in a saucepan.
  2. Warm over medium-low heat. Add water gradually until desired consistency (smooth and dippable). Set aside.

Step 3: Skewer

  1. Thread chicken strips onto soaked skewers. Don’t overpack — leave space for even cooking.

Step 4: Grill

  1. Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
  2. Grill skewers 3–4 minutes per side until charred and cooked through.

Step 5: Serve

  1. Serve hot with peanut sauce. Add cucumber relish or pickled onions if you’re feeling fancy.
  2. Eat with your hands. That’s the satay way.

Summary

Prep Time: 15 min + marinate | Cook Time: 10 min | Total: 25 min + marinate

Yield: 10–12 skewers | Difficulty: Easy

Storage Notes

Fridge (marinated uncooked): 1 day. Cooked satay: 3 days. Reheat in oven or air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes. Peanut sauce keeps 5 days in fridge — reheat with a splash of water.

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