These mouth-watering Thai beef satay skewers with peanut dipping sauce are tangy, tender, and perfectly balanced with a cool and creamy dipping sauce.
We are big meat eaters here in our house so you will always see various cuts of Certified Angus Beef in our refrigerator including ribeye, porterhouse, sirloin and more. One of my favorite cuts of beef for grilling is the flank steak because it is versatile, lean, and quite affordable for feeding a family of four. Recently I created these mouthwatering Thai Beef Satay Skewers with Peanut Dipping Sauce. The fragrant marinade made with bright lemon juice, fresh ginger, and soy sauce is great on lots of things, so I always recommend making a double batch to use later in the week on chicken, pork, fish, or vegetables.
Ingredients
- Angus beef: When you’re thinking about what cuts of beef are best for grilling skewers, I recommend flank, skirt, or flat iron steak.
- Lemon juice: Helps to tenderize the beef in the marinate, and adds a bit of citrus flavor in the sauce.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger adds a great hint of sweet and spicy flavor.
- Soy sauce: Umami flavor in both the marinade and the dipping sauce.
- Garlic: Adds a nutty, pungent, aromatic taste to the marinade.
- Chili paste: Adds the kick of heat to both the meat and the dipping sauce.
- Fish sauce: A sauce that’s full of flavor, it’s got a fishy taste for sure, but it’s also salty and sweet.
- Peanut butter: The base for the creamy peanut dipping sauce.
How to Make Beef Satay Skewers with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Start your beef satay skewers with peanut dipping sauce by making the marinade for the beef. Take a large bowl and add the chili paste, soy sauce, and fish sauce.
Next add the fresh ginger, garlic, and lemon juice. Whisk well until all combined.
Add your beef strips and mix until thoroughly covered in the marinade and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
While the beef marinates, take your wooden skewers and soak them in water. This makes it so that they won’t catch on fire when cooking on the grill.
Once beef has marinated, take them and skewer them.
Then grill your skewers over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes a side. Then let beef rest for 10 minutes.
While beef skewers are resting, make the peanut dipping sauce. Warm your creamy peanut butter in the microwave then add to a larger bowl.
Grate in some garlic using a microplane, and add the chili paste.
Then add the soy sauce, fish sauce, and lemon juice. Whisk with some warm water until fully mixed.
Serve your beef satay skewers with peanut dipping sauce with cilantro and lime wedges, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does satay mean peanut?
While many satay recipes are served with a peanut sauce, it doesn’t mean peanut. It’s just the name of the dish!
What type of cuisine is satay?
Satay, or sate, is a Southeast Asian dish. Mine is specifically inspired by Thai flavors.
How long should you marinate beef satay?
The more tender the cut of beef, the less time it’ll need to marinate. But as a general rule of thumb, I’d say a minimum of 30 minutes, and no more than 24 hours.
More Beef Recipes
- Lebanese Baked Eggplant with Beef
- Beef Brisket with Onion Soup Mix
- Easy Beef Stroganoff
- Indian Spiced Beef Kabobs
- Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
Eat It, LIke It, Share It!
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You are going to love the smoky, slightly charred flavor and the sweet creamy dip of my Beef Satay Skewers with Peanut Dipping Sauce.
No forks required.
Beef Satay Skewers with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
Beef Skewers
- 1 pound Certified Angus Beef flank or skirt steak (cut in 1-inch strips)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger (grated)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 tablespoon chili paste
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 16 wooden skewers (soaked in water)
- cilantro and lime wedges (optional garnish)
Peanut Dipping Sauce
- 4 tablespoons creamy natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili paste (more or less to taste)
- warm water
Instructions
- In a medium glass bowl, whisk together beef marinade: lemon juice, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic and chili paste. Add beef strips to the bowl and toss well to coat. Let sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes or marinate in the refrigerator for up to overnight.
- Prepare peanut dipping sauce by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl. Slowly add in warm tap water, about a tablespoon at a time, until you reach desired consistency. Reserve for later.
- To cook beef skewers, carefully thread each strip on soaked skewers. Grill over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side for medium rare.
- Let been skewers rest for 10 minutes before serving with creamy peanut dipping sauce.
I am allergic to fish so I wouldn’t be able to use the fish sauce. What would be an acceptable substitution?
You could replace it with additional soy sauce, vegan fish sauce, or Worcestershire sauce.
I made this last night, AMAZING! My kids loved it so I’m going to make this into wraps for school lunches. Thank you!
Oh great idea to put into wraps!!! Tortillas would work great too!
How many skewers are in 1 serving?
It depends on how much meat you put on the skewer. There are 8 servings in the pound so 2 ounces per person. :)
The marinade was awesome!! I didn’t cut the steak into strips until grill time and the flavor still comes through!! I didn’t care for the peanut sauce. Just tasted like peanut butter only. Served the beef with pan sautéed sugar snap peas with some butter, garlic and soy sauce, and it was delicious!!
I’m so happy you liked the marinade!! Sounds great how you served it!
Can I omit the fish sauce? My husband is allergic. What would be a good substitute?
You can omit it – you really can’t replicate it though. It’s pretty much just background unami.
This marinade was absolutely delicious! Saving it as a favorite for the future.
Question: if you don’t have fresh ginger would ground ginger work? Perhaps half the amount of fresh?
Yes absolutely!! That’s a perfect substitution!
First, these look incredible! Second, I had no idea you could use lemon to help reduce salt, what a fantastic idea! I need to work lemon into more savory dishes, it’s certainly a favorite for me when it comes to baking. Can’t wait to try these!
You know I have been using lemons for years but I didn’t realize it either!
That beef looks so juicy and tender! I’m drooling over here.
Ahh thank you Nicole!!
oh girl, these sound soooo good. I wish I could snap my fingers an have them in front of me right now!
I wish I could send you a platter!!
Meat on a stick…..YOU know I’m down!
I mean seriously what is better?
Yessssss! These flavors are everything! Mmm :)
I love using lemon juice in my marinades! Your skewers look amazing—perfectly grilled beef!
You know I do too Liz! Thank you so much!
Dear Liz, these look so delicious…so tender and juicy and the peanut sauce seals the deal! I would love to try this…Pinning for later! xo, Catherine
That peanut sauce really did seal the deal!! Thank you Catherine!