Satay And Cocktails: 5 Drinks Can Be Your Go-To Pairings With The Malaysian Snack
One of the most favoured Malaysian street foods and appetisers, satay are sweet and savoury skewers primarily made out of minced chicken or lamb, lightly roasted until they acquire an earthy, smoky touch. Satays are popularly served with a creamy peanut dip whose nutty and dense notes compliment the lightly spicy, umami small bite often embellished with a side of cucumbers or rice cakes.
At cocktail parties, satays are the favoured alternative for many home hosts for multiple reasons. Not only are they easy to circulate on a round platter, they can also be served without much fuss as they are propped up on handy skewers which are easy to grab at a gathering featuring small bites. And if that’s not enough, Malaysian satays are also excellent pairings with a lot of different cocktails as their savoury flavours can go well with diverse complex blends complete with a sweet, tangy and even herbal composition.
Read on below to know more about some of the fruity, citrusy and tropical drinks that can be paired with satay variations at the next Malaysian-themed house party you host at home:
Tamarind And Mango Daiquiri
A truly tropical offering, tamarind and mango daiquiri brings together two very contrasting tastes in the form of a sour tamarind chutney and a sweet mango pulp. Both of these opposing flavours are mixed in an interesting, complex blend that is tied together by the tart and lightly fruity qualities of about 30 ml white rum. And most importantly, tamarind and mango daiquiri tunes right into the creaminess of peanut sauce and the charred meat of the satay to deliver a deep and layered food and drink pairing.
Lemongrass Mojito
Another bright drink which is an intelligent option to pair with satay is a classic mojito infused with the flavours and aromas of lemongrass. Adding a tablespoon of lemongrass syrup to a mix of about 30 ml white rum and a tablespoon full of lime juice builds an herbal flavour into this drink which lends it an adequate crispiness that nicely rounds out the deep taste of chicken satay, providing a flavour break between two skewers.
Peanut Butter Old Fashioned
One of the highlights of this classic Malaysian appetiser is the peanut sauce or dressing which is served with the satay or is drizzled on top of the small bite. This peanut flavour can be highlighted even more by pairing the satay and its dressing with a classic old fashioned cocktail crafted using just a hint of peanut butter blended right into the drink. Nutty and rich in its flavour profile, this cocktail can be a suitable pairing with the mildly sweet and smoky notes of lamb satay.
Calamansi Margarita
Calamansi is a citrus fruit that is often used in Malaysian as well as other Asian culinary cultures for its acidity and tang. Prepare a margarita using 30 ml good quality reposado tequila that is flavoured with calamansi juice. The bright and citrusy touch of this sour ingredient will become an interesting flavour contrast with chicken satay and will undercut some of its more overpowering smoky and charred effect.
Ginger And Pandan Mule
Another cocktail whose spicy, zingy and crispy flavours would become a sharp contrast to the satay recipe is a ginger and pandan mule. Prepare this drink with the addition of about 30 ml of fizzy ginger beer whose effervescence will bring a light and aerated textural character into the drink. Garnished with pandan leaves, the cocktail will also feature a grassy quality that goes well with the earthy flavours of chicken or lamb satay paired with the drink.
Also Read: Exploring Malaysian Cuisine: Key Ingredients And Their Usage In Beverages
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
