If you have never had satay, you don’t know what you are missing! Satay is one of the must try Malaysian street food – charcoal grilled succulent skewered meat (chicken or beef) served with special satay sauce. Don’t get mixed up with the Malaysian Satay Sauce and the Thai Peanut Sauce, they are different.
I prepared some of these Chicken Satay during a recent barbeque party with my extended family and it was an instant hit. I used the chicken satay recipe from Christine’s Recipes, which requires marinating the chicken with more spices than any usual Malaysian recipe and it does not require any satay sauce. The sugar in the marinate caramelizes during grilling makes the satay taste better and the marinated chicken satay by itself is already full of flavour that they do not need the satay sauce.
But Chicken Satay is not complete without the satay sauce! so I made some using the recipe from Malaysian celebrity chef Amy Beh. The sauce recipe is almost similar to the Indonesian peanut sauce, except Malaysian version uses milk instead of creamy coconut milk.
Over the years of eating tons of satay, I think one of the secrets is the skin or fat pieces skewered between the meat that makes the satay so succulent. Of course you can opt for an all-healthy chicken breast satay, but trust me – for once it’s a must to indulge in succulent Chicken Satays!
If you do not have a barbeque grill, don’t worry. A toaster oven works well, or follow Christine’s method – cook the satay in a frying pan and finish of in the oven. They look Just As Delish!
This Chicken Satay recipe is to be submitted to Muhibbah Malaysian Monday. Check out Muhibbah Malaysian Monday hosted by 3hungrytummies and Test With Skewer for more Malaysian goodies!
I’m also participating this post to Your Best Recipe of February 2012 hosted by Spicie Foodie. Check out the other yummy recipes submitted by other bloggers the February round-up here.
- 500g de-boned Chicken Thigh (or chicken breast), include the skin and fat
- ½ Onion
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 3 teaspoon Brown Sugar
- ½ tablespoon Coriander Powder
- ½ tablespoon Turmeric Powder
- ½ tablespoon Cumin Powder
- ½ tablespoon Sweet Paprika Powder
- ½ tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 tablespoon Curry Powder
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 Shallots – chopped
- 1 clove Garlic – chopped
- 2 Red Chili – chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 tablespoon Coriander Powder
- 1 tablespoon Galangal – chopped (substitute with ginger if galangal is unavailable)
- Juice of 2 Limes
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Crunchy Peanut Butter
- 125ml Water
- 2 tablespoon Milk
- 2 tablespoon Vegetable Oil (for frying)
- Cut chicken thigh (and skin) into thin strips of 1inch slices. Blend onion in a food processor. Mix all ingredients in a plastic container, cover and refrigerate for several hours or preferably overnight.
- After marinating, thread the marinated chicken through soaked skewers. Thread the skin in between meat slices. This makes the satay more tender and juicy.
- Arrange the skewers on a heated grill or barbecue and grill until meat is evenly browned on both sides and cooked through. Prick meat with a toothpick. If no liquid runs out, it’s done.
- Serve with satay sauce, cucumber and onion.






- Ground the first 6 ingredients with a pestle and mortar (or you can also use a food processor).
- Heat oil in a wok/pan and fry the ground ingredients until the oil rises to the top.
- Add the other ingredients except milk. Bring to a boil, then simmer the mixture until the gravy turns thick. Add the milk and simmer another 5-6 minutes. The sauce is ready for serving.






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March 2, 2012 at 7:44 AM
Hi Shannon,
I hope you are enjoying your holiday. Satay you say? Oh, yes yes! We love chicken satay. Great recipe. Thanks for being a part of the YBR!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie recently posted..Your Best Recipes of February 2012, YBR
March 2, 2012 at 7:16 PM
It was a fun and adventurous unplanned holiday, and super super cold! lots of food inspiration too! I just got back to Malaysia last night, so glad for the hot weather again
Thanks for dropping by!
Yes, who doesn’t love chicken satay
March 1, 2012 at 10:13 AM
This looks beautiful
I love Malaysian cuisine, and was lucky enough to have a friend in college for awhile who would treat me to wonderful dishes. Gorgeous recipe!
Kiri W. recently posted..Pepones Et Melones – Ancient Roman Water And Honey Melons
March 2, 2012 at 6:41 PM
thank you kiri. how nice of your malaysian friend to introduce you to Malaysian cuisine.
February 29, 2012 at 11:53 PM
I love chicken satay and peanut sauce. In fact, I was in Indonesia last year and had the best chicken and beef satay with peanut sauce mixed with sweet soy sauce….SUPER GOOD!! Nice blog by the way
Super crisp…
Thanks for sharing the recipe
March 2, 2012 at 6:40 PM
thank you for stopping by. I love indonesian satay too, and i also miss all the lovely balinese food I had during my trip 2 years ago..
Pingback: Your Best Recipes of February 2012 | February’s YBR’s Roundp
February 13, 2012 at 11:38 PM
I love satay too. Going to try this for my family over the weekend
Ann@Anncoo Journal recently posted..Creme Brulee
February 13, 2012 at 1:46 PM
I love satay. I am a peanut sauce fan, definitely. Can’t wait to try this out!
February 14, 2012 at 1:54 AM
wow everyone love satay with peanut sauce.. that’s the way to eat satay
update me how your satay turn out ok?
February 13, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Argh! I haven’t had lunch yet now all I want is chicken satay
Looks absolutely delicious!
shaz recently posted..Happy “Summer of Love Cookies” Day
February 14, 2012 at 1:53 AM
thank you shaz! chicken satay is perfect for oz barbie
February 12, 2012 at 11:46 PM
What a wonderful recipe, I have printed it up and am going to make something with it. I love the peanut sauce too, I could eat that with just noodles. Delish.
Suzi recently posted..Creamy Belgian Endive Soup
February 14, 2012 at 1:44 AM
Thank you Suzi! wow I can feel your love for peanut sauce from Malaysia! hehe.
Do update me how the recipe turn out for you. hope you enjoy it as much as i do!
February 12, 2012 at 8:44 PM
I LOVE satay ! Who doesn’t ? hahaha When I saw your featured post on Asian Food Channel FB page my mouth waters hee hee Love the step by step how-to ! Yummy photos , too ;D
anne recently posted..Strawberryfic huh!
February 14, 2012 at 1:39 AM
thank you anne! Yes you are right, who doesn’t love satay
February 12, 2012 at 4:25 PM
LOVE satay — fond childhood memories
ps: I would be back in Malaysia for a few weeks sometimes around May this year — we must meet

Kiran @ KiranTarun.com recently posted..Blood Orange & Tofu Cheesecake
February 14, 2012 at 12:58 AM
Yes, we should meet up, that will be fun! I have so many things I want to ask you (more like learn from your blogging experiences). Just let me know when
February 12, 2012 at 6:27 AM
I LOVE satay! My grandparents lived in Malaysia for a brief time when my mom was growing up. When I was a kids, she used to take us to dives in Houston that had satay like she had there. In my tiny Midwest town, we have no such Malay. I need to try and make these!
Heather {the lovely cupboard} recently posted..Free Menu Printable
February 11, 2012 at 11:10 PM
Thanks so much for this recipe.I’ve been looking all around for a good chicken satay!My family loves it and we always eat this at out local malaysian restaurant here!So glad to have found your recipe and will definitely be making this

Soni recently posted..Homemade Thai Green Curry
February 12, 2012 at 1:18 AM
Good to know Malaysian food is all over the world and yes, who doesn’t love chicken satay
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!
February 11, 2012 at 7:12 PM
When I saw your title and picture I literally went “yes yes yes yes!” in my head. I’m not joking. I absolutely adore chicken satay, and love the peanut sauce just as much. I’ve made it before but can’t wait to try your version! Thanks for the tips on cooking it without a grill.
Katherine Martinelli recently posted..Chocolate Covered Strawberries and a Valentine’s Day Blog Hop
February 12, 2012 at 1:14 AM
Oh my, I didn’t know chicken satay is well known out of Asia
Aren’t chicken satay a must try? Hope you enjoy this version as much as I do!
June 1, 2012 at 8:43 PM
It seems someone is taking credit by publishing your recipes as their own. Seems to be plagiarism. Check it here – http://minikhadilkar.blogspot.in/2012/05/chicken-satay-peanut-sauce.html
June 2, 2012 at 5:19 PM
Oh dear, online plagiarism is very rampant nowadays, at least they didn’t take my photos. Thanks for informing me!