Satay: This Indonesian Version Of Seekh Kebab Has Our Heart
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Satay is a Southeast Asian dish of seasoned skewered or grilled meat that is served with a sauce. The earliest preparation of satay is believed to have originated from Javanese cuisine. Satay is now one of Indonesia's national dishes that is sold and consumed in every part of the country. This grilled dish is also quite popular in neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and our homeland India. Besides Indonesia, the dish has become a staple of the local diet in Sri Lanka, owing to the influences from the local Malay community. Satay may consist of diced chicken, goat, mutton and beef that are thread on to large bamboo skewers and grilled over heat. The rustic style of preparation employs skewers from the midrib of the coconut palm frond. Once the dish is marinated well with spicy seasonings, it is grilled or barbecued over a wood charcoal fire and then served along with a sauce. Usually it is accompanied with a bowl of piquant peanut sauce. The peanut sauce is often called satay sauce in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. Its close analogues are kao rou chuan from China, yakitori from Japan, seekh kebab from India and shish kebab from Turkey. 

History of Satay: The name, origin and influence  

It is believed that this classic Indonesian dish derived its name from a Tamil word ‘catai’ , a regional variant of ‘tacai’ which means flesh. However, an Indonesian publication claims that satay originated from the Javanese term ‘sak beteng’ which means one stick. The exact origin of this dish is not confirmed yet. One theory state that it originated from Java and it claimed to have existed since the 15th century. It is also widely believed that this dish was developed by Javanese street vendors as an adaptation of Indian kebabs. Some say that satay was developed from the Indian kebab brought by the Muslim traders. Although India does not claim its origin, for us it was a legacy of Middle Eastern influence. 

If you wish to try this dish, click here to know the full recipe.