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Lemongrass Chicken Satay

Lemongrass Chicken Satay

Lemongrass chicken satay has all the complex flavors of Thailand, sweet, sour salty and spicy. Grilled over hot coals or stove-top grill pan and served with a spicy peanut sauce. This recipe can be a meal in itself with a side of rice and a small salad or served in smaller portions as an appetizer.
4.95 from 39 votes
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Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 382kcal
Author: Pat Nyswonger

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

  • 1 stalk lemongrass white part only, peeled and chopped finely
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
  • 4-5 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon tahini paste
  • 2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Chinese five-spice
  • pinch of cayenne red pepper
  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice about 2 limes

For the chicken Skewers

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 8 wooden skewers
  • Vegetable oil for basting during grilling
  • Fresh Limes and Thai basil for garnish

Instructions

For the Marinade with Chicken:

  • In a small dish, combine the marinade ingredients and whisk to combine thoroughly. Set aside.

For the Chicken:

  • Use a meat pounder or rolling pin to flatten any thick parts of the chicken so the meat is close to the same thickness.
  • Cut the chicken into 2-inch strips, add them to a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them, turning to coat both sides with the marinade. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-5 hours, overnight if possible.

For the Thai Peanut Sauce:

When ready to cook the chicken satay:

  • Soak the wooden skewers in cold water for 30 minutes to keep them from burning during the grilling process.

To Cook the Chicken Satay:

  • Lift a chicken strip out of the marinade, allowing the marinade to drip off, thread the meat onto the wooden skewer, adding several strips. Place the completed skewer on a separate plate. Repeat with each wooden skewer dividing the chicken evenly between the skewers.
  • Prepare your grill with enough coals to maintain a medium-heat. When the coals are ready, baste the chicken lightly with oil and place the skewers on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly charred and lift off the grill easily. Using tongs, turn the skewers and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes or until the chicken is again lightly charred and opaque throughout.
  • Serve hot or room temperature, garnished with lime wedges, fresh basil, Thai peanut sauce and hot jasmine rice

Notes

  • Pork or beef can be substituted for the chicken.
  • Soaking the wooden skewers will keep them from catching fire during the grilling.
  • There will be more than enough peanut sauce. Place any remaining sauce in a covered container and refrigerate. It will keep for 5-7 days.
  • The peanut sauce is not calculated in the nutrition information.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2sticks | Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 12.7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 1092mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g