Name: Beef Satay with Peanut Sauce: A Flavor-Packed Southeast Asian Classic
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ lbs (680g) beef sirloin, flank steak, or ribeye, thinly sliced against the grain; 3 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons fish sauce; 1 tablespoon oyster sauce; 2 tablespoons brown sugar or palm sugar; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon turmeric powder; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; ½ cup creamy peanut butter; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 tablespoon red curry paste (or sambal oelek for spicier sauce); 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 1 cup coconut milk; ¼ cup water (to thin, if needed); Fresh cilantro, chopped; Lime wedges; Cucumber slices or pickled vegetables; Steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles

Description

Beef satay with peanut sauce is a Southeast Asian classic, beloved for its smoky, charred beef skewers paired with a creamy, nutty, and slightly spicy dipping sauce. Popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, satay is often served as street food, appetizers, or the centerpiece of a festive meal. The marinade infuses the beef with layers of flavor, while the peanut sauce balances savory, sweet, and tangy notes perfectly.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Beef Marinade:

1 ½ lbs (680g) beef sirloin, flank steak, or ribeye, thinly sliced against the grain
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar or palm sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the Peanut Sauce:

½ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon red curry paste (or sambal oelek for spicier sauce)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup coconut milk
¼ cup water (to thin, if needed)

For Serving:

Fresh cilantro, chopped
Lime wedges
Cucumber slices or pickled vegetables
Steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles

Instructions

Marinate the beef: In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, garlic, ginger, coriander, turmeric, and oil. Add beef slices and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best flavor.
Prepare the peanut sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, fish sauce, red curry paste, brown sugar, lime juice, and coconut milk. Simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until smooth and creamy. Add water if needed to thin. Keep warm.
Thread the skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning. Thread marinated beef slices onto skewers.
Grill the satay: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Cook skewers for 2–3 minutes per side until beef is nicely charred and cooked to your liking.
Serve: Arrange beef satay on a platter. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve hot with peanut sauce, lime wedges, and cucumber slices.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes