The FastDay Forum

I am thinking about tomorrow's feast day, and really fancy a chicken satay with rice, but have no clue if it is possible to make a fairly healthy one.

We have pre-cooked chicken to use up, so I'd just be adding that to the suace at the end.

Any tried and tested recipes? I did a search on here but didn't find any

[Moogie]

I do an Indonesian style satay sauce which is really quick and easy - one of my mum's recipes! - but perhaps not too healthy

I use about half a jar of smooth peanut butter (I actually prefer the low fat one as it has a gritty texture, but use whatever you like, crunchy too I guess!), 4 tablespoons of dark soy sauce, about a mug of boiling water and a teaspoon of ground ginger & one of garlic powder. Heat in a saucepan and keep stirring - add more water or soy to adjust the taste & strength as needed. You can also chuck in something like sambal oelek or chilli powder if you want to give it a kick.

I usually make mine quite thick and serve it over skewers of pork (marinated in soy/garlic/ginger) with a side of spiced egg fried rice & some prawn crackers and sliced cucumber on the side (the dish is called nasi goring with satay babi). You can make it thinner with more water and soy which will bring down the calorie count a bit. I find the amount I make is enough to serve 3.

Thinking about it, I bet you could make one using a traditional indian curry base - boil a few chopped onions (one per person, and then chuck another one or two in ) in water with salt, a bit of curry powder or chilli (probs chilli in this case). When soft and not too much liquid left (at least 30mins) remove from heat and blend into a nice mush. This makes a lovely sauce base and I'm sure if you added a bit of the above recipe to it you'd get a nice textured, flavoursome sauce with far less calories because of the water/onion base.

That sounds amazing Moggie! Would definitely do the trick, and with low fat peanut butter, it can't be THAT bad

Never had satay. Does it taste like peanutbutter?

[carorees]

Why the need for low fat? Peanut putter tends to have a lot of added sugar, so I think a low sugar version would be healthier!

Yes, it does taste like peanut butter, but far more savory. Here's my variant:

1/2 cup (120ml) crunchy peanut butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
2 tbsp (30 ml) lime juice
1/2 tbsp-2 tbsp (8-30 ml) Asian chili sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar
1 medium garlic clove
2 tbsp (30 ml) cilantro (coriander) leaves
2 green onions

Drop it all into a blender on high until creamy adding 1 cup hot water (or more) to thin it to desired texture.

satay sauce must be salty AND sweet - if you're not veggie replace soy sauce with fish sauce for added zing and add some fresh chillies and a good glug coconut milk is also a must!

Never had satay. Does it taste like peanutbutter?

Hi Clairemarie, I was in the States not so long ago and people did not know what Satay sauce was until I called it "Peanut Sauce".

It is the same thing but we just use a different name for it.

hths.

Good point Carolees, I have only seen low fat ones in the supermarket, but I think there is a brand that is marketed as healthier as it uses the whole nut and less sugar, so will try and get that one.

I think I'm going to mix a few of these ideas together, so looking forward to dinner now, only 9 hours to go

Weird. I was just thinking that I fancies satay for tomorrow (fasting today). So, reading this, must be a sign from peanut heaven, right?

Weird. I was just thinking that I fancies satay for tomorrow ...

It's a sneeky form of subliminal persuasion. Just like my making Miso Soup tonight from Juliana's description and picture. And probably Satay the day after.

May have to make satay sauce soon.

I have about 3 different kinds of peanut butter on the go at the moment - a meridian one that was only £2 for a huge jar - it's a bit orangey though and tastes really roasted, doesn't have any sugar or salt added - it needs stirring or it separates. I also have the Whole Earth stuff which is quite thick and claggy but really nice - again it has no added sugar but probably some salt. Then I've just bought some sun-pat crunchy which is quite sweet (added sugar methinks) but it's going to go really well in banana ice cream as it'll stir in nicely. I would never get low fat PB - not worth it for all the extra junk & syrups they put in.

I make nut butters from almonds and cashews but never tried it with actual peanuts - must try it one day.

And fave way to get the PB out of the bottom of the jar - put my morning porridge in the jar (followed by a dollop of jam or some berries) and it all melts - yum! I do this with jam, honey - any sweet spread that clings to the jar.

As you can see, I quite like peanut butter.

Then I have a screamingly good Kellog's Cocoa Krispie bar recipe with peanut butter and brown sugar, but since that cereal is unlikely to be available elsewhere in the world I'll not post it, but instead make some and eat it tomorrow, thinking about you of course.

[insert hungry icon here]

I am now craving sate, satay - bought some peanuts in shell and will shell them tonight whilst watching telly. Tomorrow will dry roast them in a cast iron pan without oil, until they're fragrant and little specks of charred skin, when cool I will rub them on a bamboo thingy and the skins will roll off - then I will make satay sauce and....no, no I'm fasting tomorrow this thread is torture!

[Betsysgr8]

I love peanuts and peanut butter Fasting today, yes this thread is torture.