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Seriously Simple: This dish is an Indonesian delight

Diane Rossen Worthington, Tribune Content Agency on

In Cathy Erway’s book — “Sheet Pan Chicken” — you’ll find myriad recipes for easy, unusual dishes. The author also advises on best sheet pans, nonstick vs. non-nonstick and how to choose a chicken and features a chart on how to cook different chicken parts.

In the world of Seriously Simple cooking, sheet pan cooking is a definite technique worth learning. This recipe, for example, can be prepared in steps. Make the sauce and optional pickles the day before. You can marinate the chicken up to four hours ahead of cooking.

The chicken in the following recipe is also quickly marinated and baked, and accompanied by a sweet and spicy peanut sauce. There are tons of recipes for satay; but this one includes toasted cumin and coriander seeds, giving it a distinct Indonesian flavor.

While most satay recipes are grilled, this satay is broiled on a sheet pan, yielding a glazed slightly burnished exterior. What could be better than wrapping the chicken into crispy lettuce leaves with pickled vegetables and drizzling with this spicy, slightly hot, slightly sweet peanut sauce? I can’t think of much.

Tasty tips

Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Serves 4

For the chicken:

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 small garlic clove, grated

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

2 tablespoons vegetable oil or coconut oil

For the peanut sauce:

1/4 cup finely chopped onion or shallots

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup water

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon sambal oelek (Indonesian chile paste) or sriracha (optional)

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)

 

To finish:

1 small head Bibb, Boston, or Little Gem lettuce, or 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, leaves separated

Quick-pickled vegetables (see following recipe) or your favorite recipe

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

1. Preheat the broiler.

2. Toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a small dry pan over high heat, shaking frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant. Immediately transfer them to a spice grinder and pulse for a few seconds, until the spices are well ground.

3. Combine the chicken, ground coriander and cumin, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, salt, turmeric and vegetable oil in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Thread the chicken onto four bamboo or metal skewers and place them in a single layer on a sheet pan. Broil for about 5 minutes, until the edges are crisp and browning, then carefully flip the skewers using tongs and broil for another 5 minutes, until browned and crispy.

4. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Combine the onion, garlic, peanut butter, water, lime juice, fish sauce, sambal, sugar, salt and peanuts (if using) in a medium bowl and mix well.

5. Serve the satay skewers with the lettuce, pickled veggies, cilantro (if using) and peanut sauce on the side, so diners can make their own wraps.

Quick Pickled Vegetables

Makes 1 jar

1 carrot, peeled and sliced on the diagonal into 1/8-inch-thick coins

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced

4 radishes, thinly sliced

1 cup rice wine vinegar

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon mustard seeds

1/2 cup water

1. Place vegetables in a heatproof resealable container or jar.

2. Combine vinegar, sugar, salt, peppercorns, bay leaf, mustard seeds and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Immediately pour over vegetables.

3. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Refrigerate any leftover pickled vegetables.

(Diane Rossen Worthington is an authority on new American cooking. She is the author of 18 cookbooks, including “Seriously Simple Parties,” and a James Beard Award-winning radio show host. You can contact her at www.seriouslysimple.com.)

©2021 Diane Rossen Worthington. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


 

 

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