The CHINESE takeout version of chickenย satay! This Chinese Satay Chicken Stir Fryย is quite different to Malaysian and Thai satay, but just as delicious.
This is a made from scratch chicken satay recipe, andย there is every possibility you already have everything you need to make this. Similar to the Everyday Chicken Curry, the simplicity of the spices required will surprise you.
Chinese Satay Chicken Stir Fry
For years, Iโve been trying to extract restaurant secrets from my local Chinese restaurant. Each time I go, I weave a question innocently into the conversation, trying to pick up one more tip.ย Ask too many, or be too obvious, and they clam up and shake their heads. โNo, no, noโ, heโd say, shaking his head.
So I paused, trying to think ofย a clever way to extract the secret of his Satay Sauce from him.
โErrโฆ.How do you make your Satay Sauce?โ I asked. Full marks for word smithing. I should have been a detective โ brilliant, crafty questioning skills.
Butย to my surprise, he actually answered.
โWe use Jimmyโs. But we change it!โ, he said almost defensively, daring me toย judge him for using a bottled sauce. โWe add things. We make better!โ
โOh! I know Jimmyโs! What do you add?โ I asked.
โNo, no, noโ, he said, clamming up.
Bugger. I went too far.
Chinese Satay Sauce
The Chinese take out version of Chicken in Satay Sauce is quite different from Malaysian, Thai and Indonesian Satay Sauce. Itโs less coconut-y and less peanut-y (are they real words??), doesnโt have bits of crushed peanuts in the sauce, and hasย a stronger flavour from satay seasoning.
As my local Chinese takeout owner says, there is actually no such thing as satay in Chinese cuisine. But over the years the popularity of satay generally has evolved such that almost every neighbourhood Chinese restaurant here in Australia has x, y and z in Satay Sauce on the menu.
The brand of Satay Sauce that my Chinese restaurant refers to as using as their sauce base is called Jimmyโs Sate Sauce.ย Itโs sold in someย Asian shopsย and even at some fresh produce stores, like Harris Farmsย (not at all stores).ย Aย Chinese friend of mine told me that itโs quite widely used in restaurants, but always with other ingredients added.
However, because even I sometimes struggle to find Jimmyโs Sate Sauce, I decided to create a Chinese Satay Chicken Stir Fry made from scratch.ย Itโsย a homemade copycat and Iโm the first to admit itโs not exactly the same.ย But itโsย similar, and most importantly, it is a darn tasty satay sauce thatโs easy to make with ingredients youโll find at most supermarkets. Oh โ and you know exactly what goes into it!
I like to useย chicken thighย for stir fries because itโs juicier than breast and tenderloin. If I make this with chicken breast, I alwaysย tenderise it using a Chinese restaurant technique using baking soda (bi-carb). Itโs super simple, see directions here: How to Velvet Chicken.
This is a simple recipe thatโs easy enough for midweek. Noย grinding peanuts, not even chopping up lemongrass (I use lemongrass paste, it works better for this recipe). In my more โseriousโ Chicken Satay Curry recipe, I insist on using both peanuts and fresh lemongrass. It has more steps and uses more equipment than this recipe and it is definitely worth the effort.
But in my world, stir fries should be fast and easy to make. So I made thisย Chinese Satay Chicken Stir Fryย straight forward. And if I do say so myself, itโs darn tasty! โ Nagi x
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Chinese Satay Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients
Tenderised Chicken, optional (Note 5)
- 8 oz / 250g chicken breast
- 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi carb soda) (optional)
Satay Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp chilli powder (Not US Chilli powder! See Note 1)
- 1 1/2 tsp Curry Powder (Note 2)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
Satay Sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp light soy sauce (Note 3)
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp Sriracha (or other hot sauce)
- 1/2 tsp lemongrass paste (Note 4)
- 1/3 cup coconut milk (full fat)
- 1/4 cup water
Stir Fry
- 1 tbsp peanut oil (or other plain oil)
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- Shallots/scallions , sliced (optional garnish)
Instructions
Tenderise Chicken (optional)
- Cut chicken in half length wise then slice thinly. Place in a bowl with baking soda, use fingers to coat. Set aside for 20 minutes.
- Rinse well, pat dry with paper towel then place in a bowl.
Seasoning
- Mix together Seasoning.
- Sprinkle 1 tsp of Seasoning over chicken. Mix to coat then set aside for 10 minutes (not critical, can skip this).
Sauce
- Place all ingredients except water in a bowl. Add remaining Seasoning. Mix, then add water and mix.
Stir Fry
- Heat oil in wok or skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic, stir fry for 1 minute.
- Add chicken and stir fry for 2 minutes until just cooked through and a bit browned.
- Lower heat slightly, then add Sauce. Stir fry until it reduce down and becomes thicker โ 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
- Serve immediately with rice โ or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice! Garnish with sliced shallots/scallions if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Chinese Satay Chicken Stir Fry recipe video!
LIFE OF DOZER
Iโm still travelling Japan and his boarder continues to report that ย it seems Dozerโs not missing me at allโฆ.
Nagi, long time follower (weโve probably cooked your Vietnamese Caramelised Pork over 100 times, itโs that good) first time commenter. So glad to finally have a decent satay recipe similar to Chinese takeaways in Northern Ireland. Recently moved to US and neither the dish, nor Jimmyโs, is a thing and I am missing it hard. When deciding your sauce ingredients, did you play around with garlic / shrimp powder at all, or would they ruin the flavours? Thanks for your incredible site, always my first go to for cooking inspiration!
I made this delicious satay for my husband and son in law for Fatherโs Day two weeks ago.
It is now their birthdays and both requested this meal again for their birthday dinner.
Thatโs how much they both loved it. In fact we all did.
Also made your strawberry cheesecake for dessert and I will add a few candles for them.
Thank you so much for all of your beautiful recipes.
Your recipes are really sensational and so are you.
All the best Nagi.
We recently discovered your site and have enjoyed every meal we have made so far. As for this dish, the satay chicken stir fry, we enjoyed it immensely. It is definitely on the โgot to make this dish againโ. Especially during a cold January, winter, here in Canada.
Iโm so glad you found me Sharon!! Thanks so much for taking the time to write some feedback, I truly appreciate it ๐ N x
Very satisfying! We will definitely be making this again. I put in about triple the amount of (natural) peanut butter because I like the peanut flavor so much, and at the very end I thought to add in some steamed broccoli I had in the fridge.
I made this for dinner last night and it was sensational. Even my kids loved it. I always wondered how they got the meat so tender so thank you so much for that tip. I canโt wait to try more of your recipes x
Is there any reason why you use curry powder in this recipe? For example, you recommended Clive of India which contains 8 of the ingredients you listed anyway, with the exception of fenugreek. So why not just adjust your quantities of the ingredients and add fenugreek instead? Just seems kind of redundant to me.
Clive of India Curry Powder contains: Coriander, Turmeric, Fennel, Black Pepper, Cumin, Chilli Powder, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Salt
Delicious! The whole family loved it. I had a fresh jar of Jimmyโs Star Sauce and added a couple of teaspoons whilst the sauce was reducing and it took it to a whole new level, even better than take away.
Love your recipes Nagi. Youโre my go-to if I need something new.
Going to give this a go tomorrow! Canโt wait, can I cook in the slow cooker? If so how long do you recommend for? Thanks abbie
Hi Abbie, sorry this one isnโt suitable for the slow cooker. N x
I tripled this recipe to make it for six people. It was a hit! Never buying a jar again! Perfect peanut flavour/heat mix on a winters night
Just wonderful! Asian cuisines are my favourites. We live in the country and local asian food is a little disappointing. We loved this dish. I used hot curry powder which gave it a good punch. Thanks Nagi for helping me to create my favourite foods at home. Iโm so grateful.
Hi Nagi, I am looking forward to cooking this for my family tonight. Can this be made ahead of time?
Asha ๐
You Rock Nagi! First time my kids actually ate a stir fry!
My motherโs group loves you so much!!!! Thanks again
Judy, Melbourne.
Absolutely awesome tastes like heaven ๐คค๐คค
Wahoo, thanks so much Edythe โค๏ธ
Yumm! This is my new favourite stir fry. I used 500g of chicken thigh instead of breast and threw in some green and red capsicum. Next time I make it Iโm going to double the sauce as my partner and I love everything saucy.
Perfect Lauren! N x
amazing recipe, my husband loved it, will definitely be making this again,
Wahoo, thatโs great to hear Jo! N x
Hi Nagi this recipe is great. Iโve made lots of satays over the years, will only make yours from now on. Your recipes are consistently reliable and Iโve cooked at least 20 plus of your recipes and counting
Thank you so much Amanda, I truly love hearing what people think of my recipes! N x
Loved this recipe and glad that I tripled it for leftovers. I added some pre-cooked shrimp for my 2nd meal. Thanks for the method to tenderize chicken.
You are my โgo-toโ website when Iโm looking for something delicious to cook!!
Thanks so much Wanda! N x
I made this tonight for dinner. I made it for four people so we could have left overs. It was a tad spicy but bearable. Hubby went back for thirds and heโs the one that is a bit iffy with the heat! When I make it again I was going to tone down the curry powder and the hot sauce (i used the green bottle Tabasco) but I donโt think I will. Loved it Nagi. Everything I have made from your website has been a winner! thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes.
Hi Rozz, could be the curry powder โ some are much spicier than others!! N x
Nagi, the sauce in this recipe is AMAZING!!! I multiplied the recipe enough to use the whole can of coconut milk with plans to freeze some sauce for laterโฆbut we ate it for 3 days straight instead. No regrets ๐
WOOT!!! How good is this sauce, I could drink it on tap! N x
Hi!
Making this tonight for my family ๐
When is the best point to add the veg in โ thinking snow peas,
Capsicum and green beans!
Canโt wait!