Chicken Satay with Homemade Peanut Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

• 8-16 or more chicken thighs, cut into small pieces or strips, or the equivalent of beef (enough for your family/party)
• 1 package wooden skewers
• optional garnish: 1 red chilli, sliced thinly
• SATAY MARINADE:
• 1/4 cup minced lemongrass, fresh or frozen (if using fresh, see below for instructions)
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 thumb-size piece galangal or ginger, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 of thumb-size piece fresh turmeric, OR 1/2 tsp. dried turmeric
• 2 Tbsp. coriander seeds, ground (grind them yourself with a coffee grinder)
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 3 Tbsp. dark soy sauce
• 4 Tbsp. fish sauce
• 5 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

PREPARATION:

1. For complete instructions on how to buy and cook with lemongrass, go to: All About Lemongrass: Your Guide to Buying, Preparing, and Cooking with Lemongrass.
   
   
2. Cut chicken or beef into small, thin pieces or strips (small enough to easily skewer). Place in a bowl.
3. Place all marinade ingredients in a food processor (discard the upper stalk of lemongrass). Process well.
4. Taste test the marinade - you will taste sweet, spicy, and salty. The strongest taste should be SALTY in order for the finished satay to taste its best. Add 1 - 2 Tbsp. more fish sauce if you feel it needs more.
5. Add the marinade to the meat and stir well to combine. Allow to marinate for at least 1 hour, or longer (e.g. overnight).
6. When ready to barbecue, slide the pieces of meat onto the wooden skewers. TIP: Fill only the upper half of the skewer, leaving the lower half empty so that the person barbecuing has a "handle". This makes it easier to turn the satay during cooking.
7. Barbecue the satay, OR grill in the oven on a broiling pan with the oven set to "broil". Place satay close beneath the heating element and turn the meat every 5 minutes). Depending on how thin your meat is, the satay will cook in 10 to 20 minutes. Garnish with slices of fresh red chilli, if desired.
8. Serve with my Homemade Thai Peanut Sauce for dipping.

More Serving Suggestions:

• For an extra special treat, serve with Thai Coconut Rice
• For a well-balanced meal, serve with my Green Papaya Salad
• For drinks, satay goes down best with a cold lager.