Hip Hip Hooray Chicken Satay Food

ALMOND CHICKEN SATAY

Steps:

• Plunge the noodles in hot very hot tap water and let soften for 15 minutes, then drain.
• In the meantime, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper, and then add to the skillet. Cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Stir in the ginger and garlic and cook until very fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk, almond butter, 1/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bring to a simmer. Stir in the snap peas and cook until the peas are bright green, about 3 minutes. Stir in the lime juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the chicken over the rice noodles, sprinkled with chile and cilantro.

GRILLED OR ROASTED TOFU SATAY

Steps:

• Combine the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add the dry tofu and red pepper and toss gently with a rubber spatula to coat evenly. Let marinate 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. Refrigerate if longer than 1 hour.
• Prepare the grill or preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• To make the sauce, place all the sauce ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour into a decorative serving bowl.
• Remove about 1/3 cup of the sauce and drizzle it over the tofu. Use the rubber spatula to toss the tofu gently with the sauce. If you are grilling the satay, thread the tofu and red peppers on skewers. (Bamboo skewers must be soaked for 30 minutes.) If you are roasting the tofu in the oven, place it in 1 layer in a large, shallow baking dish such as a 9 x 13-inch lasagna pan. Use 2 pans if one pan isn't large enough.
• Cook the tofu on the hot grill at least 20 minutes, turning it occasionally, or roast in the oven for 25 minutes. The tofu is done when it is a deep golden brown. Let the tofu cool to room temperature before serving. Serve alongside a bowl of sauce for dipping.
• Tip: Canned coconut milk sometimes separates so that there is a thick, pasty mass at the top of the can and thin liquid on the bottom. Also, if the can has been kept in a cool cupboard, the milk will appear solid rather than liquid. In either case, stir the coconut milk before measuring it. Once heated, the coconut milk will thin out.

CHICKEN SATAY

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the apple juice, peanut butter, soy sauce and the red curry paste.
• Add the chicken tenders to the heated grill and cook, about 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Remove from the grill and top with the sauce.

SWEET RED CHILI CHICKEN SATAY

Steps:

• Cut the chicken thighs into 1/2-wide long strips and place into a large resealable bag. In a bowl, whisk together the chili sauce, pineapple juice, soy sauce, and garlic. Pour the marinade into the bag over the sliced chicken. Seal the bag and toss to coat completely. Place the bag into a large bowl and put into the refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour or as long as overnight.
• To serve: Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Thread the chicken strips onto the skewers. Oil the grill gates and place the chicken on the grill. Cook until the chicken is just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.

CHICKEN SATAY

Steps:

• KIDS the writing in bold is for you. GROWN-UPS the rest is for you. Make a yummy marinade. Peel the ginger and help them to finely grate it and tip it into a bowl. Repeat with the garlic and lime zest. Halve the lime and get your child to juice it, then mix it in a bowl with the honey, soy, curry powder and peanut butter. Get them to give it a good mix, adding a small splash of water if it's too stiff, then help them spoon two-thirds of the mix into a small pan. Set aside for Step 4.
• Now for some chicken bashing! Put the chicken in the sandwich bag, one breast at a time, getting your child to flatten each one with a rolling pin or a meat mallet - this isn't essential, but they like doing it.
• Mix the chicken with the marinade you made. Cut the chicken into strips, tip it into the remaining third of the peanut-butter mix, then get your child to stir well. Cover with cling film and chill until required. This can be done up to 3 hrs ahead.
• Cook your tasty sauce. While the chicken is marinating, pour the coconut milk into the pan and get your child to stir together with the peanut butter mix. The sauce needs to be heated gently and stirred - suitable for confident seven- or eight-year olds, under strict adult supervision.
• 'Sew' the chicken onto the skewers. The chicken needs to be threaded into 'S' shapes onto the skewers. Get your child to thread the skewers away from themselves, being careful of the sharp points. Younger ones might find this a little fiddly, so they could just push on small chunks.
• Paint the tray with oil and cook the chicken. Heat the grill to high and get your child to brush a baking tray with oil. They can then line up the skewers on the tray. Grill the skewers for about 10 mins, turning occasionally, until lightly charred.
• Make cucumber ribbons with a peeler. Using a swivel-blade peeler, get your child to peel the cucumber into a bowl, then carry on peeling the cucumber flesh into ribbons until they get to the seeds. Repeat with each side of the cucumber.
• Mix a dressing for the cucumber. Get your child to mix the vinegar and sugar until the sugar dissolves - explain what dissolves means. Add the sweet chilli, if using, then pour over the cucumber. Add coriander if your child likes it, or serve on the side for the grown-ups. To serve, put the skewers on a platter, the sauce and salad in bowls, and serve with rice and lime wedges on the side.