Satay!

Many Westerners think satay is a Thai dish, but in fact it originated in Indonesia and is found everywhere in Malaysia. It is a very inexpensive dish in these countries. Families can make their own satay on a charcoal grill, but more likely they will go out and get heaping platters full of tender skewered meat. Satay is a meal in itself -- not merely an appetizer!

Chicken and beef satay are the most common, but you can also find pork satay -- and even fish satay. The meat is always marinated and should be grilled over charcoal for the best flavor. Satay is always accompanied by delicious peanut sauce!

In Malaysia, satay always comes with chunks of cucumber. Sometimes the cucumber has been soaked in mild vinegar, maybe with some sugar added. Another very common accompaniment is rice cakes (ketupat), which taste great with peanut sauce.

Now, if you look at a Malaysian menu, you will see sate. That is satay! To pronounce "sate" correctly, just say "SAH-teh."