When you want everyone to agree on what to eat, make Chicken Satay. Grilled chicken skewers flavored with soy, lime, and ginger and served with a peanut dipping sauce, they taste succulent, a little spicy, and a little sweet. That’s it! Satay is simple to make, tastes great, and eating food on a stick is just plain fun!
Chicken satay is a popular appetizer or main dish that originated in Indonesia It features tender strips of chicken that are marinated in a blend of enticing spices and skewered. The appeal of chicken satay lies not only in the juicy, flavorful meat, but also in the delicious sauces and sides that accompany it Here are 10 mouthwatering ways to serve your chicken satay and take it to the next level
1. Peanut Sauce
A sour peanut sauce goes well with chicken satay because it adds a nutty depth and creaminess that goes well with the spices used to flavor the meat. To keep it simple, you can just use peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, lime, ginger, and cilantro. Add curry powder or chili garlic sauce to make it stronger. You can drizzle peanut sauce over chicken or put it on the side for people to dip their food in.
2. Cucumber Salad
To go with the spicy peanut sauce and chicken, a light cucumber salad is a nice change. Toss thinly sliced cucumbers with a sauce made of rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and a little sugar. The cool crispness balances out the other flavors perfectly.
3. Coconut Rice
Coconut rice is another traditional accompaniment for chicken satay. The sweet coconut flavor and fluffy rice texture pair wonderfully with the meat and sauce. Cook jasmine or basmati rice with coconut milk instead of water. You can toss in some chopped cilantro or pineapple chunks for extra flavor.
4. Spicy Noodles
For a more filling meal, chicken satay is fantastic served over spicy noodles. Rice noodles or ramen noodles work well. Create your own noodle dish with soy sauce, sesame oil, chili garlic sauce and vegetables like bok choy, broccoli and bell peppers. The noodles soak up that delicious peanut sauce nicely.
5. Grilled Pineapple
Grilled pineapple is a great way to add something sweet to balance out the other tastes. The caramelized, smoky pineapple complements the char-grilled chicken perfectly. Sprinkle some oil on pineapple slices and grill them until they have nice grill marks.
6. Vegetable Skewers
Chicken isn’t the only thing that can be skewered and grilled! Make vegetable skewers with chunks of onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes or whatever you like. Brush them with oil and your favorite seasonings before grilling. The vegetable skewers add color to the plate and give guests more options.
7. Steamed Vegetables
For a lighter side, try simple steamed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, snap peas or bok choy. A spritz of lemon juice brightens up the veggies nicely. Steamed vegetables provide a wholesome, nutritious pairing for the chicken and sauce.
8. Fried Rice
For an easy fried rice, stir-fry leftover rice or grains with vegetables, eggs, soy sauce, and sesame oil. That peanut sauce will go great with the slightly charred rice. Fried rice fills you up, but not too much before the chicken.
9. Fresh Spring Rolls
For a no-cook option, serve fresh spring rolls on the side. Filled with refreshing ingredients like cucumber, carrot, mint, vermicelli noodles and lettuce, they are packed with crunchy texture and brightness. The cool, crisp rolls offset the warm chicken satay perfectly.
10. Roti Canai
In Malaysia, chicken satay is often served with a flatbread called roti canai. Similar to an Indian paratha, it has a flakey layered texture that’s perfect for scooping up sauce. Roti canai is fantastic for wrapping up bits of chicken and rice too. Offer roti canai wedges alongside the skewers for a fun, interactive dining experience.
The beauty of chicken satay is that it can be paired with so many flavors, textures and dishes. Try out different combinations until you find your favorites! From classic peanut sauce to interesting additions like pineapple or roti, the possibilities are endless.
How to Make Baked Chicken Satay
Here are some tips for making chicken satay skewers without a grill.
Personally, I like the char that comes from grilling (or using a grill pan on the stove), but if you can’t, the oven will still work.
- After following the directions for marinating the chicken, soak the skewers and make the peanut sauce.
- Place the chicken skewers on a baking sheet with a lip when you’re ready to cook them.
- For 5 to 6 minutes, until the chicken is golden on the outside and cooked all the way through, broil the skewers.
- To Store. Skewers that are left over can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Keep the peanut sauce in a separate container that won’t let air in for up to four days.
- To Reheat. Take the chicken off the skewers and put it on a baking sheet. Let it cool down, then heat it up in the oven at 350 degrees F. Serve the satay right away as soon as it’s warm, and keep an eye on it so it doesn’t dry out. Stir the sauce around every few minutes as you heat it up again on the stove or in the microwave.
- To Freeze. For up to three months, freeze the chicken and peanut sauce separately in containers that won’t let air in. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
You can eat these chicken skewers over your favorite greens, with homemade fried rice, or with this Asian noodle salad if you have any leftovers. I don’t think you will, but hey.
How Long to Marinade Chicken
Chicken can be marinaded up to 1 day in advance. I think you should only marinate the chicken for 24 hours at most. After that, the meat will start to break down.
For more marinade tips, check out my all-purpose Chicken Marinade and Chicken Thigh Marinade.
- Chicken Breast. The chicken gets very tasty and tender between the marinade and the grill. It’s also easier to thread chicken breasts onto skewers than chicken thighs.
The Thai peanut dipping sauce might just be the best part of chicken satay!
- Peanut Butter. For flavor and texture, a tasty peanut sauce needs peanut butter that is thick and creamy.
- Honey. naturally adds just the right amount of sweetness to our peanut sauce to keep you coming back for more, like in my favorite Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe. Honey also goes great with peanut butter in savory dishes like this one.
- Soy Sauce + Fish Sauce. Salty, umami flavor bombs.
- Sriracha. For a touch of heat. You can add more to make the chicken satay skewers even spicier.
- Ginger + Garlic. Two must-have ingredients that provide complex flavors.
- Lime Juice + Cilantro. Acidity and freshness. Could use shallot or red onion as well.
- Marinate the chicken, and soak the skewers.
- Prepare the peanut dipping sauce.
- Put the skewers on a grill and cook them over medium-high heat for two to three minutes on each side.
- Serve with toppings and peanut dipping sauce. ENJOY!
How to Make Jet Tila’s Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce | Ready Jet Cook | Food Network
FAQ
What do you have with Chicken Satay?
For a hassle-free supper, just serve our Chicken Satay with some of our Plain Rice or on plain noodles, with a wedge of lime and some coriander. A great addition to a Thai meal to sit alongside all those colourful curries, and a convenient dairy free meal option if you’ve got guests with dietary requirements.
What is satay usually served with?
Satay can be eaten with a spicy peanut sauce dip or peanut gravy, along with rice cake slices or lontong, and a sprinkle of bawang on top.
What is a way to serve satay?
You can serve satay hot off the grill, or enjoy it at room temperature. Satay sauce can be served hot or cold, though I find it’s best either warm or at room temperature.