Make juicy, flavorful chicken satay skewers with a rich, homemade peanut sauce. This recipe delivers bold, takeout-style flavor perfect for a quick weeknight chicken dinner or an impressive party appetizer.
Author:Ahazzam
Prep Time:15 min
Cook Time:15 min
Total Time:1 hour 30 min
Yield:4 servings
Category:Dinner
Method:Grilling
Cuisine:Thai
Diet:Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch strips
120 ml unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
30 ml soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Wooden or metal skewers (soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes)
For the Peanut Sauce:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup hot water
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Instructions
Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, soy sauce, brown sugar, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and salt. This is your flavorful chicken marinade.
Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken strips to the marinade, ensuring every piece is coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours, for the best results.
Prepare the Peanut Sauce: While the chicken marinates, make the homemade satay sauce. In a medium saucepan, combine the peanut butter, hot water, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
Cook the Sauce: Heat the sauce mixture over medium-low heat, whisking constantly until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Remove from heat and set aside.
Assemble Skewers: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers, leaving a small space between each piece. You should have about 8-10 skewers.
Cook the Chicken: You can grill or pan-cook these chicken skewers. For grilling, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush the grates with oil. Grill the skewers for 4-5 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred. For pan-cooking, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the skewers in batches for 5-7 minutes per side until done.
Serve: Arrange the juicy chicken satay skewers on a platter. Serve immediately with the creamy peanut dipping sauce on the side. You can garnish with fresh cilantro or lime wedges.
Notes
For an even more authentic Thai flavor, add 1 teaspoon of fish sauce to the marinade mixture.
If you prefer a thinner sauce for drizzling, thin the peanut sauce further with extra hot water or coconut milk.
This recipe works well with chicken breast, but chicken thighs stay juicier when grilled.