Indonesia • Regional Dish • Side Dish

Sate Ayam (Indonesian Chicken Skewers)

Sate ayam is one of those dishes that makes people suddenly hover near the stove pretending to help. The chicken gets a simple spiced marinade, then picks up color and caramelized edges on the grill.

Servings4

Prep Time20 min

Cook Time12 min

DifficultyModerate

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Ingredients

US Metric

1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces

10 bamboo skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes

For the marinade

2 tbsp kecap manis

1 tbsp neutral oil

2 garlic cloves , finely grated

1 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp fine salt

1/4 tsp ground white pepper

For the peanut sauce

1 tbsp neutral oil

2 shallots , finely chopped

2 garlic cloves , finely chopped

1 small red chili finely chopped

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1 cup water

2 tbsp kecap manis

1 tbsp lime juice

1 tsp palm sugar or brown sugar

1/2 tsp fine salt

For serving

1 small cucumber , sliced

1 small shallot , thinly sliced

1 cup cooked lontong or steamed rice, optional

Sambal, optional

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces

10 bamboo skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes

For the marinade

2 tbsp kecap manis

1 tbsp neutral oil

2 garlic cloves , finely grated

1 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp fine salt

1/4 tsp ground white pepper

For the peanut sauce

1 tbsp neutral oil

2 shallots , finely chopped

2 garlic cloves , finely chopped

1 small red chili finely chopped

120 g smooth peanut butter

250 ml water

2 tbsp kecap manis

1 tbsp lime juice

1 tsp palm sugar or brown sugar

1/2 tsp fine salt

For serving

1 small cucumber , sliced

1 small shallot , thinly sliced

200 g cooked lontong or steamed rice, optional

Sambal, optional

Instructions

Thread the chicken onto the soaked skewers, packing the pieces fairly snugly but not too tightly.
Stir together the kecap manis, oil, garlic, coriander, turmeric, cumin, salt and white pepper. Rub the marinade over the chicken and leave it for 20 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
Make the peanut sauce. Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic and chili, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Stir in the peanut butter, water, kecap manis, lime juice, palm sugar and salt. Simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until smooth and pourable but still thick enough to cling to a spoon. Add a splash more water if needed.
Heat a grill pan, barbecue or heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the skewers for 5 to 6 minutes on the first side, then turn and cook for another 4 to 6 minutes until lightly charred and fully cooked through. Brush with a little extra kecap manis in the last minute if you want a glossier finish.
Spoon some peanut sauce onto a platter or serving plates. Arrange the skewers on top and serve with cucumber, sliced shallot, lontong or rice, and sambal if using.

Cultural Context

Sate ayam is one of Indonesia's most widely loved street and everyday foods, with regional variations across the country. Chicken satay is especially associated with styles that pair grilled skewers with peanut sauce, kecap manis and rice cakes such as lontong or ketupat, while other local versions swap in different sauces or seasonings.

Fun Fact

Satay was traditionally grilled over charcoal and sold by street vendors, which helps explain why great sate ayam often tastes a little smoky, a little sweet and slightly unfair to every plain grilled chicken recipe that came before it.

Cook’s Tip

Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts, so they're the better call here. Less drama on the grill.
If you want a looser sauce for drizzling, add 1 to 2 tbsp hot water at the end.
A little extra kecap manis brushed on while grilling gives the skewers a deeper color and sweeter edges.
You can cook these under a hot grill if the weather refuses to cooperate.
If using natural peanut butter, stir it very well first so the sauce does not go grainy.

Trivia

In Indonesia, satay does not always mean peanut sauce. Some versions lean more heavily on kecap manis, sambal or even tempeh-based sauces depending on the region.

About This Recipe

A fresh serving of global recipes, food stories, quizzes and delicious discoveries.

Sate Ayam (Indonesian Chicken Skewers)

Instructions

Cultural Context

Fun Fact

Cook’s Tip

Trivia

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