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| Warong Sate Kendal in Batam, Indonesia |
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| R & H Cafe Satay Maharani in Muar, Malaysia |
Since I was a boy, I am thrilled by the sight of leaping orange flames made by grease dripping onto the red hot embers. The aroma of hissing smoke from spiced grilled meat fill the air around the satay stall. You can see a satay stall from a mile away by its cloud of white smoke, smell it when you are half way there.
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| R & H Cafe Satay Maharani in Muar, Malaysia |
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| Fish satay in Lombok, Indonesia |
So, where do satay originally come from?
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| Image credit: Wikipedia |
This ancient Greek terracotta BBQ set dates back 1,700 years before Christ i.e. nearly 4,000 years ago 😱 Looking at the size of the handle, this might be the proto-table top BBQ set of the world 😲
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| Image credit: Wikipedia |
The origins of grilled skewered meat is usually attributed to ancient Mesopotamia (today's Iraq) and spread across the Middle East. The conquering Afghans brought the dish to India in the 10th century.
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| Bagdad fell to the Mongols in 1258. Image credit: Wikipedia |
This might explain why we have 3 versions of the origin of sate in Indonesia (which wouldn't be surprising once we think of Indonesia as the crossroad of east and west).
One theory suggests that the Indonesian name sate came from the ancient Tamil word for flesh, "catai". Indian influence in Indonesia dates back to the first centuries A.D.
The Buddhist Srivijaya Empire ruled the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and most of Java from 650 - 1377. Its successor, the Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit Empire which ruled from 1293 - 1517 controlled the entire Indonesian archipelago and Malay peninsula at its peak.
According to this theory, when Gujarati traders from India brought their seekh kabab dish to Indonesia, the locals adapted this dish and called it "sate". But, this theory doesn't address how or why the metal skewer was replaced by coconut leaf stem or bamboo - which is one of the defining features of sate.
Another theory linked the name sate to a bamboo craftsman named Satah.
Satah was a disciple of Malik Ibrahim who was one of nine saints (Wali Songo) who first brought Islam to Indonesia. Malik Ibrahim died in 1419 in Gresik (in Java).
During Adha or the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, a lamb, cow or buffalo is offered. Satah would make Arabian style kebabs with small pieces of meat skewered with a thin piece of bamboo grilled over charcoal embers. Satah's creation was very well received and the dish became known as "sate".
The earliest Chinese immigration to Indonesia was in the 1300s, but the numbers were greatest during the mid 1800s to early 1900s. At that time, the Qing dynasty was collapsing and many Chinese from southern China (Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka) were fleeing wars and famine.
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| Borobudur built 750 - 825. Image credit: Wikipedia |
The Buddhist Srivijaya Empire ruled the Malay peninsula, Sumatra and most of Java from 650 - 1377. Its successor, the Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit Empire which ruled from 1293 - 1517 controlled the entire Indonesian archipelago and Malay peninsula at its peak.
According to this theory, when Gujarati traders from India brought their seekh kabab dish to Indonesia, the locals adapted this dish and called it "sate". But, this theory doesn't address how or why the metal skewer was replaced by coconut leaf stem or bamboo - which is one of the defining features of sate.
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| Grave of Malik Ibrahim. Image credit: Wikipedia |
Satah was a disciple of Malik Ibrahim who was one of nine saints (Wali Songo) who first brought Islam to Indonesia. Malik Ibrahim died in 1419 in Gresik (in Java).
During Adha or the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, a lamb, cow or buffalo is offered. Satah would make Arabian style kebabs with small pieces of meat skewered with a thin piece of bamboo grilled over charcoal embers. Satah's creation was very well received and the dish became known as "sate".
The earliest Chinese immigration to Indonesia was in the 1300s, but the numbers were greatest during the mid 1800s to early 1900s. At that time, the Qing dynasty was collapsing and many Chinese from southern China (Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka) were fleeing wars and famine.
However, there are no records of where, how or when Chinese style kebabs arrived in Indonesia. Also, back in China, kebabs 烤肉串 are more favoured by northern Chinese than southern Chinese.
One theory claims that the name sate or 沙爹 in Chinese came from the Hokkien phrase 三块 which means "three pieces" referring to the 3 pieces of meat in the wooden skewer.
This theory sounds intuitively attractive but there is no evidence on where this started in Java. Furthermore, traditionally in Java, satay had 4 pieces of meat. Nevertheless, Chinese style satay do often have just 3 pieces of meat (some say because the number 4 is considered inauspicious as it sounds like the Chinese word for death 死).
One of the defining features that distinguishes Indonesian/ Malaysian/ Singapore satay from Arabian/ Indian/ Chinese kebabs is the grainy peanut and spice (coriander seed, cumin, turmeric etc) sauce. One theory suggests that the name satay came from the Chinese name for the peanut sauce 沙爹 which sounds like "sah ti aye".
People move around between Java, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula since time immemorial. Javanese migration to Singapore peaked around the late 1800s to 1920s to work as bonded labourers in plantations. They brought their sate with them, selling them in two baskets on a bamboo pole slung across the shoulder.
In one basket, the peanut sauce and small serving bowls. In the other, a small charcoal stove and satay.
The skewered meat were grilled on the spot and customers sat on little stools around the stall to eat.
Sate became extremely popular among all the communities. In Singapore, it became known by their Malay name, satay.
Chinese satay offers options of pork meat & fat, pork intestines, pork liver and chicken.
The most famous place to have satay in Singapore was at the "Satay Club at the Esplanade". It had 28 food stalls, mostly selling satay.
The "Satay Club at the Esplanade" was the satay and dating hotspot of Singapore until it was demolished in 1995 for redevelopment into the Esplanade - Theatres at the Bay complex. The "Satay Club" was located on Queen Elizabeth Walk (a narrow breezy tree lined promenade) between the Padang (big field) and the sea.
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| Ah Fu Satay in Kluang, Malaysia |
This theory sounds intuitively attractive but there is no evidence on where this started in Java. Furthermore, traditionally in Java, satay had 4 pieces of meat. Nevertheless, Chinese style satay do often have just 3 pieces of meat (some say because the number 4 is considered inauspicious as it sounds like the Chinese word for death 死).
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| Al Mizan Satay in Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
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| Javanese satay man in Singapore 1906. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
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| Satay man in Singapore 1907. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
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| Satay man with customer in Singapore 1930s. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
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| Satay man & kutuput in Singapore 1930s. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
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| Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
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| Singapore Satay Club 1985. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
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| Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
There were attempts to bring back the Satay Club in other locations but did not last long as the ambiance and atmosphere at the old Elizabeth Walk cannot be replicated.
Today, satay is sold everywhere in Singapore. Most hawker centres have at least one satay stall.
Where do you get your satay fix in Singapore and Johor?
Date: 31 May 2020 | Reviewed 4 Sep 2022
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| Chinese style satay in Singapore |
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| Ramly Kopitiam in Batu Pahat, Malaysia |
Date: 31 May 2020 | Reviewed 4 Sep 2022
Hi Tony,
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing article, this time on satay. And while reading it my salivary glands went overdrive.
After spending a decade in PRC I am in total agreement with your comment “back in China, kebabs 烤肉串 are more favoured by northern Chinese than southern Chinese.”. Only on VARY rare occasion that this skewed meat be found south of the Yangtze江南.
Instead of coconut/wooden skewer the PRC’s has improvised with steel bicycle spokes. And instead of dipping the grilled meat, normally lamb (羊肉串), into condiment like our satay sauce they are normally eaten as filling in a 10 fen分naan type bun about 4 inches in diameter. This is rarely seemed at tourist spots in their attempt to sell more skewers.
My most memorable memory of these lamb skewers was the mid-night supper hunting trip in Xian in early 1993. Catching scent of sweet grilled meat in the snow fall, me with my English & Nigerian colleagues followed the trail to a snow covered back lane, brightly lighted by hawker kerosene lamps. Walking down the lane we saw an upturned wheel hub filled with burning coal & low bench lined four sides. There sat two middle age man grilling meat skewed over the fire, as snow flakes falling.
The night was cold, & wind blowing, making the calling of the warm amber very strong. So, we walked up & plunk our butts on the cold bench, warming our hand over the fire. Soon enough we were attracting the crowds as white or black man were still a rarity in PRC. And I had both.
The two gentlemen beside us started up a conversation & help us order our food, explained how to prepare & eat them. First came the meat skewers which we grill ourselves to our liking, then slide 5-6 skews of cooked meat in halved bun. As the lamb are thinly slice they cooked quickly without losing their juice, which was quickly soak up by the bun.
Maybe it is the magical combination of cold, hunger & warm food that elevated simple fare to heavenly level. Gosh, how I wish to relive that moment, when that warm fragrant meat filled bun touch my lips. Bless.
Alas, soon I was brought back to earth with other hawkers offering their fares, which came streaming warm and pipping. Cheap Chinese beer was ordered and shared with our two new found friends, which in turn shared their surprisingly delicious moonshine. The crowd grew and many more joined us at the low conference stool. What a wonderful time. By the time we straggled back to our hotel in very early morning, our mind filled by the smell, scent, colour, light, warm of conversation & delicious food, mingled with some level of intoxication.
Thanks again for allowing me to rant on and on and on. #StayHomeStaySafe
Wow Thank you for the insight and sharing of your wonderful experience. Appreciate much. I am really looking forward to pounding the back streets again for such amazing memories like yours. Stay safe and healthy buddy :-D
Deleteno satay write up relating malaysia is complete without mention of satay kajang. i actually dot think its that great but it is that famous, in malaysia anyways. lol
ReplyDeleteyou are right. I had it a few times in Kajang 20 years ago. I intend to include Kajang satay in the write up once I have revisited and have an update. I remember Kajang satay was bigger, meatier and have stronger spices back then.
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