Let’s Grill!

In Indonesia, there are several ways food is cooked on the grill—straight up (bakar, in the manner of Ayam Panggang Kecap), threaded on skewers (sate), and wrapped in banana leaves (pepes).

Sate, or satay spelled the English way, is probably the most famous of all the cooking styles. I have fond memories of childhood barbecues with nary a burger or hot dog in sight. Instead, we had satay—either chicken (Sate Ayam) or pork (Sate Babi Oma). It was my job to thread small chicken pieces (and skin!) onto soaked bamboo sticks. Then the grill master, aka my dad, would flip the skewers continuously over glowing charcoal until suitably gosong (charred).