It's grilling season! This satay recipe is a perfect one to try.

Satay (barbequed meat on skewers) is a popular dish in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore. The secret of a delicious satay is in the marinade. The recipe below is an authentic satay marinade used in Southeast Asia - the spices in the recipe are guaranteed to tenderize the meat and imbue it with fragrant flavors.



Ingredients

12 shallots
6 cloves garlic
2 inch fresh ginger
1 tsp peppercorn
1 tsp coriander seeds
2 tsp fennel seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp belacan (shrimp and chilli paste)
4 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp tumeric powder

Procedure

1. Grind up the shallots, garlic, ginger, white peppercorns, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds and belacan(shrimp and chilli paste) to make a paste.
2. Add water to the paste. Add the sugar and tumeric powder.
3. This is the satay marinade. Cover the meat with this marinade and leave till overnight in the refrigerator.
4. Skewer the marinated meat with bamboo sticks. Be sure to soak the bamboo sticks beforehand, so they do not burn when you begin to grill the meat. When grilling, turn the skewered meat over now and then. Each time you turn the skewered meat, baste them with the marinade.

Important Notes

The key of the marinating process is to marinate the meat for a long time, at least overnight and some people even marinate the meat in the refrigerator for up to three days. Also remember to slice the meat thinly so as to cook evenly, preventing overcooking on the grill.

In Southeast Asia, grilled satay is always accompanied with a peanut sauce dip, and fresh cut cucumbers. Click here for the peanut sauce recipe.

Enjoy.