Recipes

Indonesian Beef Satay

Serves 4

| Prep Time: 30 mins

| Cook Time: 5 mins

| Total Time: 35 mins

You may need: Indonesian Satay

Discover The Recipe

Indonesian Beef Satay are tender, marinated meat skewers that are grilled to juicy perfection. One of the most popular dishes in Southeast Asian food market stalls, Satay are now popular worldwide. Satay skewers appear to have originated on the island of Java in Indonesia. As late as the 19th century, Java was still an important trading hub for Middle Eastern merchants, who sought exotic spices like nutmeg and cloves for export. These merchants brought a culture of cooking meat on kebabs (or spits) and thus, Indonesian Satay emerged. Satay, or Sate in Indonesia, can be made with any meat, fish or even tofu. The protein is marinated in a variety of spices, including turmeric, which imbues a golden hue and is commonly served with a sweet soy sauce or peanut sauce for dipping.

Our Indonesian Satay blend contains coriander, nutmeg, cumin, paprika, garlic, ginger, white pepper, and turmeric. Mixed with ginger, garlic, soy sauce and lime juice, it becomes the perfect juicy marinade for these beef skewers. Grill or broil them over high heat for a perfect char, and dunk them in peanut sauce. This simple dish makes a perfect bite-size party appetizer, or enjoy this Indonesian Beef Satay alongside your favorite sides as a main dish.

Ingredients

~1 lb skirt or flank steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 Tbsp fresh ginger, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 limes, juiced (~2 Tbsp lime juice)
1 Tbsp Piquant Post Indonesian Satay spice
1 tsp fish sauce
16 wooden skewers, soaked in water
Cilantro and lime wedges for garnish
Peanut Sauce (for dipping):
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1.5 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp minced fresh ginger

Notes

When cutting the steak, it is best to cut against the grain because you are reducing the length of the muscle fibers, making it easier to chew. In addition, this locks in all the juices!

Soaking the wooden skewers helps prevent the skewer from splintering and also from the wood burning. Soaking for 15 minutes should do the trick!

Credit for Peanut Sauce recipe to Kristin Hong.

Optional ingredients add a little character and flavor, but don’t sweat it if you don’t have them.

Instructions

First, soak wooden skewers in water to prevent them from burning. Then, cut the steak against the grain into 1-inch strips. Cut the strips again into about 1-inch cubes.

In a medium bowl, combine ginger, garlic, soy sauce, lime, Indonesian Satay spice and fish sauce. Add beef cubes and toss to coat in sauce. Marinate at room temperature for minimum 20 mins.

Line a baking sheet with foil. Adjust top oven rack 6 inches from top and turn on oven broiler to High. Skewer the beef cubes and place on baking sheet. Broil on High for 3 mins, flip and broil for another 2 mins (for medium rare). Let skewers rest for 10 mins before serving with peanut dipping sauce.

Finally, make the peanut sauce: Place peanut butter in mixing bowl and slowly add 6 Tbsp of warm water (2 tbsp at a time) and stir. Peanut butter texture will thin. Then, add hoisin sauce, soy sauce, lemon and juice, and ginger and stir to mix.

Alternatives & Substitutions

Use chicken thighs, breast, fish, tofu or pork instead of beef for your own take on satay. Try our Chicken Satay recipe. Beef lovers will enjoy our Indonesian Meatballs (Basko). If you enjoy seafood, you will love our Grilled Shrimp Satay.
Vegetarians / Vegans: get inspired! Try using our Indonesian Satay spice to make these delicious marinated Tofu Satay Lettuce Cups.
Try our Satay spice to make another veg recipe: Spicy Tofu Satay Bowls. Use 1 - 1.5 tsp of our Indonesian Satay spice in the marinade in place of turmeric.
Or try making these stunning Grilled Chicken Satay Buddha Bowls. Use 1 Tbsp of our Indonesian Satay spice in place of the turmeric and curry paste.
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