We’ve been eating more chicken than usual lately, and I’ve been struggling to find ways to keep things interesting. The freezer has been packed with boneless, skinless chicken breasts so that’s what we’ve been working with, but I really prefer the dark meat of chicken thighs – it’s much more flavorful and doesn’t dry out as quickly. A marinade or dipping sauce usually helps when it comes to chicken breasts, and this recipe has both! It was also way outside of our comfort zone, specifically the peanut dipping sauce. It’s not something either of us has had before, and though I generally have a sense whether Shane will be game to try new things, I double-checked before adding this one to the menu.
I served these for dinner, but I think they’d also be a fun appetizer. The ingredient lists for the marinade and sauce are on the long side, but the two have many ingredients in common, and for the most part they were things I keep on hand anyway. The only big change I made was to modify the dipping sauce to dial back the heat by eliminating the red curry paste it called for. Oh, and I also halved the sauce as well – this recipe makes a lot, you will have leftovers even if you scale back. In the end, I think we both would have been happy to eat the chicken even without the sauce – it was tender and flavorful thanks to the marinade. That said, the peanut dipping sauce took it to another level, so good! Shane was a bit skeptical, I had to remind him of his promise that he’d at least try it 🙂 Fun, flavorful and relatively healthy – can’t ask for much more than that from a weeknight dinner!
Chicken Saté with Peanut Dipping Sauce
adapted from The Food You Crave by Ellie Krieger
Peanut Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Chicken
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup light coconut milk
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
1/2 cup peanut dipping sauce
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped unsalted peanuts
To make the sauce: Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of your food processor. Process until smooth. You can make the sauce ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To make the chicken: Whisk the chicken broth, coconut milk, soy sauce, shallot, garlic, brown sugar, lime zest, and ginger together in a wide, shallow bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Set a grill pan over medium-high heat and spray with nonstick cooking spray. While the pan heats, remove the chicken from the marinade and thread the strips onto skewers. Grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked through. Garnish with the cilantro and peanuts and serve with the peanut dipping sauce.
I have Ellie’s book and have wondered if this recipe would be a hit here. After reading your post, I think so! Hubs will also dig that it’s a “healthy” recipe. It’s nice to have new options for chicken.
Okay, I am really getting hungry. Time to say goodnight so I can dream of chicken sate and salted caramel chocolate chip bars…
I’ve had Elie’s recipe printed for awhile but have yet to make it! Looks wonderful. 🙂
I love chicken sate! I’ve made Ellie’s peanut sauce and it’s truly wonderful. Now I’ll have to try it with chicken, too!
Everything about this sounds so perfect! As soon as chicken doesn’t make me want to throw up, I’m trying this!
I love the idea of dipping satay sticks as a main for dinner! so much fun!
oh tracey, this looks sooo good! will definitely be trying this soon!
I love peanut dipping sauces! Whenever my family goes out to this sushi/Japanese place (Ooka) I always get either the sayte chicken with peanut sauce or the thai peanut chicken. It’s amazing and I can’t wait to make it myself! 🙂
This was definitely a tasty dinner, thanks for making it!
I wish I had a stash of chicken in the freezer! We have a deep freezer but sadly don’t even get much use out of it.
I love a peanut sauce! I’m pretty sure I’ve had this recipe earmarked since I bought that book – need to make is soooon!
The chicken looks absolutely perfect!
I am salivating at the sound of this peanut sauce, it’s right up my alley. I adore this meal, Tracey!
ahhh i have a great chicken sate recipe that I need to blog–thanks for the reminder 🙂 These look awesome–you can’t ever go wrong with peanut sauce, right?
I LOVE chicken with peanut sauce! Must find a reason to make this soon.
I love this recipe in Ellie’s book, have made a few times myself! Let’s be real though, it’s got peanut butter, of COURSE I’m gunna love it 😉
that looks so delicious! peanut sauce — yum!!
Chicken Sate is one of our favorites! The marinade with this sounds amazing!
Oh man I love this! Not sure if these would work as appetizers though because I would eat like 10 of these!
I LOVE these at thai restaurants..and you know what’s funny, they’re one of the hor’dourves that’s being served at my wedding! haha so of course this is a winner in my book if it’s at my wedding! 😉
Oh man I love peanut sauce!! I am always looking for a good recipe for it…
I am definitely trying that peanut sauce! And probably smothering it on everything from chicken to pretzels to bananas!
Im always looking for different chicken recipes, too, and I love the sound of this dipping sauce. Yum!