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Bring a taste of Southeast Asia to your own backyard with these grilled beef skewers. Whether you’re eager to try a new recipe or want to surprise guests with something different at your big-game BBQ, Chef Tony’s spin on this popular Asian street food is an excellent way to shake up your typical grill menu. The fresh, fruity flavors shine through in these beef satay skewers, and they’re safe to share after receiving a delectable sear from the grill. Best of all, it’s a quick and easy recipe that’ll leave an impression on all who partake!
Ingredients
- 40 each bamboo or metal skewers (if bamboo: soak in water overnight)
- 2 lbs skirt steak
- 2 cloves garlic (for garlic paste)
- 3 in fresh ginger root (for ginger paste)
- 1 yellow onion, rough chopped
- Zest of 1 orange
- Fresh orange juice from 2 oranges
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, rough chopped
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup fish sauce
- Fresh lime juice from 3 limes
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 1 Tbsp coarse salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp ground cardamom powder
- 2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 3 Tbsp dark brown sugar
- ½ tsp tapioca starch or cornstarch
- 4 oz sesame seed oil
Items You'll Need
Instructions
- Soak the bamboo skewers overnight (or at least 4 hours). An easy way to keep them underwater is to place them in a glass mason jar, fill it with water, and screw on the cap.
- Prepare the garlic paste. Smash each clove with the flat of a knife and remove the skin before trimming the stems and mincing. Collect the minced garlic into a pile and sprinkle with salt. From there, use the edge of your knife to press against the pile at an angle to flatten and spread. Repeat until the garlic has the consistency of a smooth paste.
- Prepare the ginger paste. Clean the ginger, peel the skin, and rough chop. Place the ginger pieces in a blender or food processor, add a bit of oil or water, and blend until it has a pasty consistency.
- Make the marinade by combining in a blender or food processor all ingredients except for the sesame oil and steak. Chef Tony prefers the smoothness created in a blender, but a food processor works almost as well. Set aside when done mixing. If you’re making the marinade ahead of time, it can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Lay the skirt steak lengthwise on a cutting board and cut into 3 equal sections. The three rectangles should measure about 5 inches by 6 inches.
- Now thinly slice each section, making sure to cut across the grain. Each slice should be about ⅛ to ¼ of an inch thick and 5–7 inches long.
- Once all strips have been cut, place in the marinade, cover, and return to the refrigerator for 8–12 hours.
- Remove the steak strips from the refrigerator and weave each one onto a skewer in a back-and-forth pattern. Place each skewered strip on a sheet pan as you proceed.
- Arrange for direct-heat cooking in your grill, then preheat it to a medium-high temperature.
- Place the skewers directly on the cooking grates and grill each side for about 1½–2 minutes.
- Remove the skewers from your grill, place them on a large platter, and serve immediately. If serving young children, you may want to remove the skewer before serving. Either way, enjoy!
