Is It Satay or Sate: Discover the Flavor of Southeast Asian Cuisine, & The Origin of Satay
Just like Shashlik, Kebab, or Yakitori, Satay is one of the great dishes that you can find in every Pan Asian Restaurant or street food across Southeast Asia.
For many, Satay often means chicken skewers grilled over charcoal and served with peanut sauce.
Satay is a beloved dish that is enjoyed all over the world. Whenever you come to a Specific Pan Asian restaurant you could easily find Satay on their menu. It is a marinated and grilled meat dish, typically served on a skewer. Satay has its origins in Southeast Asia and is particularly popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines mostly in the southern part which is Mindanao. The dish has become so popular that it is now enjoyed in many other parts of the world as well.
The history of satay can be traced back to Indonesia, where it is known as sate, yes sate and it is pronounced as sā.té. The word sate is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word “śaţh” or ꦱꦠꦺ, which means “to stick”. Satay was originally made with skewered chunks of meat, which were grilled over an open flame. The dish was typically served with rice cakes or steamed rice and a spicy peanut sauce.
Satay quickly became a popular dish throughout Southeast Asia, with each country adding its own unique twist to the recipe. In Thailand, satay is known as “satay gai” and is made with chicken. The meat is typically marinated in a mixture of turmeric, lemongrass, and coconut milk before being grilled. In Malaysia & Singapore, satay is marinated with the same spices and is more like chunky peanut sauce; in the Philippines, Satay is called “Satti” grilled chicken skewers with soupy-based sauce has peanut and coconut flavor but it is orange colored.
In Indonesia itself, Satay can be made with any ingredients, from chicken to seafood, every state has its own satay, and even every city or village has its own satay identity. The most popular one is “Sate Madura” which is believed as the most influential satay all over the world. Most chicken satay is inspired by “Sate Madura”, with its deliciously sweet, full of spices, savory & a bit tangy peanut sauce.
From the same island of Java, you could easily find “Sate Kambing” or lamb satay with sweet soy salsa, “Sate Maranggi” which is marinated beef satay with its popular fermented soybean sauce based. And from other islands like Bali and Lombok, you could find “Sate Lilit”, Lemon grass fish skewered, with Sambal matah, “Sate Babi”, marinated pork skewers, and all types of seafood.
It is so fascinating, Satay in Indonesia convenient to find. On every corner, most restaurants, hawkers, and even people sold satay with customized moving carts and selling it house to house, freshly cooked directly to its customer.
One of the reasons why satay has become so popular is because it is easy to prepare and cook. Bursting aroma & succulent taste, the meat can be marinated in advance, which means that it can be grilled quickly when it is time to serve. The skewers also make it easy to cook the meat evenly, ensuring that it is tender and juicy.
Another reason why satay has become so popular is because of its versatility. As flexible as it is the dish can be served as an appetizer, a main course, or even as a snack. In luxury establishments, you could find satay serve in pass around/ Canapes function.
Over the years, satay has become a staple dish in many other parts of the world. In the United States, satay is often served in Thai and Indonesian restaurants, while in Europe, it is often found in Vietnamese and Malaysian restaurants. In the Middle East, most luxury Hotels & Restaurant has satay on their menu or special occasions. Satay also even become popular in Australia, where it is often served at outdoor barbecues and other social gatherings.
In most popular opinion, keeping the name “Sate” is preferable, to preserve the cultural inheritance. Hence, whether satay or sate, most people knew what is it and what to expect. which one did you prefer?
