Traditional Thai Chicken Satay
Ingredients
1 lb chicken thigh fillets, cut into roughly 1 inch cubes
20 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
Marinade:
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp white sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Thai cucumber relish (Ajat):
½ cup white sugar
½ cup white vinegar
1 tsp sea salt
½ small cucumber, sliced into rounds and then quarter the rounds
1 small Asian red shallot, sliced (or red onion)
1 long red mild chillies, sliced
Satay sauce:
¼ cup roasted peanuts
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1½ tbsp Thai red curry paste
1 cup coconut milk
2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp fish sauce
2 tsp white sugar
Directions
Place the chicken in a large bowl add the curry powder, salt, sugar, and oil. Mix until well combined. Thread the chicken onto bamboo skewers. Set aside to marinate for 1-2 hours or overnight if you have the time.
To make the cucumber relish, heat the sugar, vinegar and salt in a saucepan over high heat for 3-4 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool. Place the cucumber, shallot and chill in a small bowl. Pour over the cooled vinegar mixture.
For the satay sauce, use a mortar and pestle or food processor to grind the roasted peanuts to a fine consistency. Set aside.
Heat the 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the curry paste and cook for a minute until fragrant. Add the coconut milk, roasted peanuts, peanut butter, fish sauce and sugar. Cook for a further minute. Then remove from heat. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more fish sauce and/or sugar. And keep warm or reheat when ready to serve.
Heat a barbecue grill plate or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken skewers for 3-4 minutes each side or until cooked through. Serve warm with the warm satay sauce and the Thai cucumber relish.
