Sate Lilit Bali, a Popular Dish From the Island of Bali

Sate Lilit or is a popular dish from the Island of Bali. The word “lilit” means “wrap around”. Sate lilit is the favorite street food in Bali.

The meat is usually wrapped around the skewers.

Traditionally, lemongrass stalks are used as skewers instead of bamboo skewers, and the choice of meat is also really flexible. Balinese people use minced chicken, fish, pork, beef, duck, and others to make this cuisine.

Since sate Lilit originated of Bali, it is often referred to as sate Lilit Bali, and next to babi guling, one of the most popular dishes on the island.

INGREDIENTS :

• 1 1/2 lbs minced duck or chicken meat
• 2 cups grated unsweetened coconut
• 2 oz gula jawa / Indonesian palm sugar (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 Tbsp cooking oil (and extra for brushing)
• 10 stalks of lemongrass or 20 bamboo skewers

Ground spices:

• 5 shallots (peeled)
• 7 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 1- inch galangal (peeled)
• 1- inch kencur/Kaempferia galanga (peeled) or substitute with 1/2 galangal and 1/2 ginger if you must
• 2- inch turmeric (peeled)
• 2 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 5 candlenuts/kemiri sub with macadamia nuts or omit if you must
• 1 teaspoon shrimp paste/ belacan
• 4 kaffir lime leaves Cut off the tough vein in the middle
• 1/2 lemongrass stalk cut into 1-inch piece
• 2 cloves
• 5 Thai red chilis remove stems (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Sauce:

• 4-5 red chili (seeded and finely chopped)
• 1/4 cup Indonesian sweet soy sauce
• 1/4 cup fried shallot crisps/ bawang goreng

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place all the ground spices ingredients in a food processor and process into a paste. Add a bit of water.
2. If you use bamboo skewers, soak the bamboo skewers in water for few minutes. If you use lemongrass as skewers, cut the stalks into half and get rid of extra layers if necessary.
3. Preheat 3 Tbsp of oil in a wok or skillet. Add in the ground spices and saute until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove from the wok or skillet and let it cool down completely.
4. In a large mixing bowl, mix the meat with the spice paste above, coconut, palm sugar, and salt. They should come together nicely without falling apart.
5. With clean hands, scoop up about 2-3 Tbsp of the meat mixture and mold it onto the bamboo or lemongrass skewers. Repeat until you are done with the meat and skewers.
6. Preheat the grill.
7. Brush the sate with a bit of oil and grill the sate until cooked and golden brown all over. You can also use a grill pan for this purpose.
8. Serve with the sauce.

This traditional Balinese delicacy can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it can be served as a light main course or a nutritious snack.