How do you make satay sauce?

To make satay sauce, cook peanut butter with coconut milk, soy sauce, garlic and a little lime juice until smooth and thick. It takes about ten minutes on the hob and needs no special kit. Full method and amounts below.

If you run a kitchen, café or shop, you do not need to make it from scratch each time. Tiger Tiger supplies Malaysian Satay Sauce by the case through our trade register, so every batch tastes the same without the prep time.

What Is Satay Sauce?

Satay sauce is a warm, thick peanut sauce served with grilled meat skewers across Indonesia and Malaysia. It began as street food, poured over chicken, beef or tofu satay cooked on a charcoal grill. In Indonesia it is also spooned over gado-gado, a mixed vegetable salad. The base is always peanut, but cooks build the flavour with coconut milk, soy sauce, garlic, chilli and lime.

Satay sauce is peanut based and traces back to Indonesian and Malaysian street food. A home version needs only six or seven pantry items.

For a restaurant or caterer, buying it ready made in bulk keeps every plate consistent, without a pan tied up on the hob during service.

Ingredients

• Smooth peanut butter, unsweetened
• Coconut milk
• Soy sauce
• Garlic, crushed
• Lime juice
• Brown sugar, a small amount
• Chilli, fresh or dried (optional)
• Water, to thin

We supply a ready made Malaysian Satay Sauce in bulk packs, along with tinned coconut milk and other pantry staples, for kitchens that go through this sauce often.

Method

1. Fry the crushed garlic in a splash of oil until soft, about one minute.
2. Add the peanut butter, coconut milk and soy sauce. Stir over low heat until smooth.
3. Stir in the brown sugar and chilli, if using. Simmer for five minutes, stirring now and then so it does not catch.
4. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the lime juice. Add water a little at a time until the sauce is the thickness you want.
5. Serve warm, spooned over skewers or in a bowl for dipping.

Ways To Use Satay Sauce

Chicken satay sauce is the classic pairing, brushed onto skewers or served alongside for dipping. Peanut satay sauce also works well stirred through noodles or rice, spooned over steamed vegetables, or used as a marinade before grilling. On a menu that runs this sauce every day, a bulk supply keeps the flavour steady across every sitting. For a fuller spread of sauces to have on hand, see our guide to Asian sauces, or pair it with a Thai curry paste for a wider Thai menu. If you want to build a full Thai curry around similar flavours, our guide to cooking a Thai curry at home walks through the method.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is satay sauce made of?

Peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, garlic and lime, often with a little sugar and chilli.

Is satay sauce the same as peanut sauce?

Yes. Satay sauce is a type of peanut sauce, named after the grilled meat skewers it is served with.

Can I make satay sauce without coconut milk?

Yes. Use water or stock in its place. The sauce will be thinner and less rich.

Can I buy satay sauce in bulk?

Yes. Tiger Tiger supplies Malaysian Satay Sauce by the case for restaurants, caterers and shops. Order through our trade register.

Tiger Tiger sells in bulk, not single jars. If you run a kitchen, shop or catering business, order Malaysian Satay Sauce and our other pantry sauces by the case. Fill in the trade register to get started.