Satay Chicken
Singapore satay chicken is a popular street food featuring tender, marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with a rich, creamy peanut sauce. The marinade, often made with a blend of spices like turmeric, coriander, garlic, and lemongrass, infuses the chicken with a fragrant, slightly sweet, and savory flavor that caramelizes beautifully on the grill. The peanut sauce, with its balance of sweetness, saltiness, and a hint of spiciness, complements the juicy chicken perfectly. Traditionally served with cucumber, onions, and rice cakes, Singapore satay chicken is a deliciously satisfying street food that's enjoyed by locals and visitors from around the world.
Today we are making this classic street food at home with basic ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! This version is perfect for home cooks and is beginner-friendly, with simple steps to get that authentic flavor right in your kitchen. We are going to make the creamy, delicious peanut dipping sauce that pairs perfectly with the juicy, tender chicken skewers.
Whether for a family meal or a quick snack, you’ll be surprised at how easy and tasty this satay chicken is. Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients:
Chicken Thigh Fillet - 1kg ( Breast fillet is also fine)
Salt - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Tamarind Pure - 2 tbsp
Cooking oil (sunflower oil / peanut oil / vegetable oil) - 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp
Crunchy Peanut butter - 1/4 cup
Water - 1.5 cup
Satay sticks or skewers - 10-12
Ingredients for the spice mix:
Coriander Powder - 4 tbsp
Ground Cumin - 2 tbsp
Ground Fennel - 2 tbsp
Ingredients for the paste made from aromatics:
Lemongrass - 80g
Garlic - 35g
Ginger - 45g
Onion - 350g (or 2 medium size onions)
Paprika - 1.5 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Water - 1.5 tbsp
Instructions:
PREPARE INGREDIENTS
Soak 10-12 satay skewers in cold water for 1-2 hours before cooking
Chop 80g of lemongrass into thin slices (it is easier to slice them at an angle)
Peel 6-7 cloves of garlic (35g)
Thinly slice some ginger (45g)
Roughly chop some onions (350g or 2 medium size onions)
PREPARING THE SPICE MIX
In a small bowl, mix 4 tbsp of coriander power, 2 tbsp of ground cumin and 2 tbsp of ground fennel.
Mix well and set aside
PREPARING THE AROMATICS (THE PASTE)
In a blender or food processor, add 80g of sliced lemongrass, 35g of peeled garlic, 45g of thinly sliced ginger, 350g of roughly copped onions, 1.5 tbsp of paparika, 1 tsp of turmeric powder and some water
Blend until it becomes a paste
Seperate into two bowls - 1/3 to marinate the chicken with, and 2/3 for the satay sauce
MARINATING THE CHICKEN
I am using 1kg of skinless chicken thigh fillet (also OK to use breast fillet )
Slice chicken into thin strips and place them in a mixing bowl
Marinate the chicken with 1/3 of the paste we made earlier, 1/2 tbsp of salt, and 1/2 tbsp of sugar
Keep the chicken in fridge while preparing the satay sauce.
MAKING THE SATAY SAUCE
Heat up 1/4 cup of cooking oil in a small pot on medium heat
Once the oil is hot, add 2/3 of the paste (aromatics) we made earlier. Sauté the paste for about 5 minutes until the aromatics are cooked
Add 2 tbsp of the spice mix and sauté for 30 seconds
Add 1/4 cup of peanut butter; I am using Skippy Super Chunk Peanut Butter for the crunchy texture, but you can also use the smooth peanut butter for a velvety texture. Mix the peanut butter well with the paste
Add 1.5 cup of water and bring down the temperature to low-medium
Season with salt, sugar and tamarind pure to your taste
Slowly bring it to a simmer until the oil separates and rises to the top. This takes about 10-15 minutes
Have a taste and adjust, if necessary, before taking it off the stove
Now the satay sauce is ready to be served.
SEARING THE CHICKEN
Heat 2 tbsp of cooking oil in a non-stick pan
Sear the chicken skewers on low-medium head while turning them every 30-seconds
** Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan
Chicken is cooked through after 5-6 minutes and they are ready to be served!
Hope you enjoy the recipe. You can check out the recipe video on our YouTube channel.