Finally, summer is here!  That means lots of grilling at our house.  One of my favorite things to grill are skewers.  You can get so creative with what you thread on those sticks!  Veggie kabobs are a must, with juicy mushrooms, sweet-and-spicy onions, and bell peppers.  Keep the skewers close at hand for this easy recipe:  Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce!

I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs here, although you could use skinless breasts instead. Everything else should be easy to procure.  These are best when they’ve had a chance to marinate for at least 2 hours, but don’t let the chicken marinate more than eight hours, or the chicken will start to break down.

If you have any leftover skewers, these mildly spiced chicken bites make a fantastic salad!  Just chop them up and toss with salad greens, lots of cucumber, and red or yellow bell pepper.  Make the peanut sauce into a salad dressing by buzzing in a blender with a little water or more oil. Delightful!

Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:

Chicken Satay:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (use powdered if you can’t find fresh)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
• juice from 1/2 lemon or lime
• wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes, or use metal skewers

Peanut Sauce:

• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic
• 3 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha or hot sauce of your choice
• juice from 1/2 lemon or lime
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil or olive oil
• optional:  a few dashes of nam pla (Thai fish sauce)

Directions:

1. Slice the chicken thighs into 1″-wide strips
2. Mix together the rest of the chicken satay ingredients and stir in the chicken.  Cover and refrigerate for two hours (or longer, up to 8 hours).
3. While the chicken is marinating, make the Spicy Peanut Sauce.  Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. When the grill is hot, thread the marinated chicken onto the skewers.  Grill for 5-8 minutes per side.  Serve with Spicy Peanut Sauce and more chopped cilantro.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!