Sauces and Dips

An authentic satay marinade captures the essence of Southeast Asian flavors, typically from Indonesia, Malaysia, or Thailand. Here’s a traditional marinade recipe:

Ingredients:

• 500g chicken, beef, or lamb (cut into small cubes)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 shallots (minced)
• 1 stalk lemongrass (white part only, finely chopped)
• 1 inch ginger (grated)
• 1 inch turmeric (fresh, grated or 1 tsp ground turmeric)
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tbsp cumin powder
• 2 tbsp palm sugar (or brown sugar)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp coconut milk
• 1 tbsp tamarind paste (optional)
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Meat: Place the cubed meat in a large bowl.
2. Make the Marinade: In a food processor, blend the garlic, shallots, lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, coriander powder, and cumin powder into a paste.
3. Mix the Marinade: In a bowl, mix the paste with palm sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, coconut milk, tamarind paste, and vegetable oil. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Marinate the Meat: Pour the marinade over the meat cubes and mix well, ensuring each piece is coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
5. Skewer and Grill: Thread the marinated meat onto skewers and grill over medium heat until cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
6. Serve: Traditionally served with peanut sauce, rice cakes, and cucumber salad.

This marinade will give your satay a rich, flavorful, and aromatic taste, perfect for an authentic experience.