Indonesian Chicken Satay

By Breanna Jones, Imani Evans, and Anonymous

"Indonesian Flag" by radriansyah is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Food in Indonesia is an important element to the people within this country and is a reflection of its rich culture. It represents history, community, identity, religion, class, and gender. Indonesia is made up of many islands and many cultural groups. Due to this diversity, Indonesian food culture developed slowly over time through shared traditions, spiritual beliefs, and everyday life. These influences helped shape the foods people eat, the way they prepare them, and the meaning food holds. Today, food continues to help Indonesian people stay connected to their past and to one another. Our group chose this country to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of food in Indonesian culture, and to test our skills in the kitchen to make a dish that represents this country well.

Understanding Indonesian food begins with understanding the way Indonesian people think about identity. In many Western countries, identity is often linked to race. However, in Indonesia, identity is closely connected to suku bangsa, which means “ethnic group” (Purnama, 2024). This term includes the unique customs, languages, and beliefs of each group. Because most Indonesians have similar skin tones, race is not the main factor that separates people. Instead, their ethnic group and religion guide how they live and how they think about themselves (Purnama, 2024). This way of seeing identity strongly influences food traditions. For example, the Javanese, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, hold tightly to their cultural practices, including those related to food. They are considered part of the pribumi, or Indigenous population, and have preserved many practices through family teaching and community events (Purnama, 2024). These traditions were shaped over hundreds of years.

Early food customs centered around farming, especially growing rice. Rice became the main food eaten every day, and is seen as a symbol of life, energy, and blessing. Families cooked together, using vegetables, herbs, and spices to prepare meals that were simple but meaningful. Over time, these food traditions helped build a strong sense of identity. People passed down recipes and cooking techniques from parents to children. These dishes were not just everyday meals; they also appeared during ceremonies, holidays, and important community events. In this way, food helped keep cultural identity alive. When children learned how to cook family dishes, they also learned about their ancestors and beliefs. This helped keep each group’s identity strong, even as the country changed.

As food traditions continued, women became very important carriers of cultural knowledge. Women were often responsible for feeding their families and teaching younger generations how to cook, and their work kept culture alive inside the home. They also often prepared natural remedies, such as herbal drinks, used for healing and for keeping families healthy. Women learned these skills from their mothers and grandmothers, passing them down to their daughters. In this way, food knowledge became a kind of inheritance (Vogue, 2023). Through this teaching, women helped protect and preserve cultural memory. Because women shared recipes, stories, and teachings about nature, they helped guide their families and communities. Many women used their food skills to support their households. They prepared and sold goods locally, which strengthened social ties and provided income (Vogue, 2023). Their work showed how food was not only about tradition but also about survival and independence. While many women were expected to work mainly inside the home, they still played a powerful role in holding cultural knowledge and sharing it.

As families and communities continued these daily food rituals, larger public traditions also developed. One of the most meaningful Javanese customs involving food is the slametan. This is a community meal shared during important events like births, weddings, funerals, and house blessings. The purpose of the slametan is to create peace and harmony among the people who attend (Nasir, 2019). The meal is usually simple, but what matters most is sharing. Everyone receives the same food, which shows that all are equal. People pray and eat together, strengthening their bonds. Even though the slametan values equality, it also shows social structure. For example, during the event, people show respect to elders, religious leaders, or wealthier families (Nasir, 2019). This reflects traditional class divisions in Javanese society. In the past, the upper class was called priyayi, and the common people were called wong cilik. Sharing food helped bring these groups closer, but the order of respect remained important. This shows that food is connected not only to belief and community but also to social status.

Food and religion are also deeply connected in Indonesia. When Islam spread into Java, it did not replace older beliefs. Instead, it blended with them. This mixing created a unique spiritual identity called Islam Kejawen, which combines Islamic teachings with older Hindu-Buddhist and animist traditions (Soenjoto, 2022). Because of this blend, many traditional customs continued, including food rituals. Islam Kejawen is not strict. It focuses on peace, spirituality, and living in harmony. This made it easier for people to keep their cultural practices while following Islamic beliefs (Soenjoto, 2022). As Islam grew, people used familiar stories and performances, such as gamelan music and wayang shadow puppets, to teach Islamic values (Soenjoto, 2022). These performances often took place during community gatherings where food was served. Because of this, food remained important in both cultural and religious life. Even the buildings used for worship reflect this blending. Some mosques in Java show Hindu-style design, showing how older traditions shaped Islamic spaces (Soenjoto, 2022). Through food, art, and community, religion and traditional culture continued to exist together.

Even though Indonesia continues to modernize as a country, many social traditions connected to food remain, and class differences can still be seen. Wealthier families may serve more food or use more expensive ingredients at events. Their status is recognized through customs that show respect toward them during meals and ceremonies (Nasir, 2019). However, sharing food during Slametan gatherings, “a broad communal prayer, feast, and food-offering to commemorate or celebrate critical live cycles, such as birth, marriage, and death, constitutes an essential ritual for Javanese Muslims” reminds people that they are still part of one community (Nasir, 2019). This helps reduce conflict and encourages unity, even when differences exist. Regardless of wealth, people in Indonesia value the sacredness of a meal shared among others.

Gender roles also shape food culture. In many Javanese households, men are seen as heads of the family, while women are expected to manage cooking, childcare, and the home (Korniawati & Rahim, 2024). Male dominance is a priority in this culture, which often puts them in authority over women within the household. Women are encouraged to be loyal, gentle, and supportive. These expectations reflect patriarchal values that limit women’s freedom and opportunities. As a result, women may have fewer chances for education or professional roles (Korniawati & Rahim, 2024). Still, the knowledge and responsibility women hold in food culture give them influence inside their homes and communities. They teach children important cultural practices and care for their family’s health, which makes women remain central to cultural survival. While these gendered practices can be harmful, Javanese women have used there roles to make a positive impact on the food culture in their families.

Indonesian food culture is shaped by identity, history, religion, class, and gender. Ethnic groups like the Javanese use food to express who they are and to stay connected to their heritage (Purnama, 2024). Women play a key role by teaching recipes and caring for their families (Vogue, 2023). Community events like the slametan show how food builds unity and reflects social structure (Nasir, 2019). Religion blends with older customs to create unique food and worship traditions (Soenjoto, 2022). Even though women face limits under patriarchal systems, they continue to protect and share cultural food knowledge (Korniawati & Rahim, 2024). Food also acts as a memory when families cook traditional meals to honor their history. Recipes become stories, and ingredients become symbols that connect families across generations, helping them stay rooted in their identity and culture. Even as life becomes more modern, many families continue traditional cooking, reminding people of where they come from and helps keep their identity strong. Food in Indonesia is more than a meal, it is a way of remembering the past, honoring shared beliefs, and building community.

Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

Chicken

• 1 lb / 500g chicken thigh fillets (skinless and boneless)
• 2 1/2 tbsp kecap manis (thick sweet soy sauce)
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 12 – 14 small bamboo skewers , soaked in water for at least 30 minutes

Peanut Sauce

• 1 tbsp cooking oil (peanut, canola, vegetable)
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 small or 1/2 large onion , diced (red, brown, yellow or white)
• 3 birds eye chillis , sliced (or sub with hot sauce)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
• 1 cup coconut milk (full fat is better, but light is ok)
• 2 1/2 tbsp kecap manis (Note 1)
• 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup crushed unsalted roasted peanuts (buy crushed or chop your own)
• 1 – 2 tbsp fresh lime juice

Garnish (optional)

• Crushed peanuts
• Lime wedges
• Sliced shallots/scallions

Instructions

Chicken

1. Cut the chicken into 1.5cm/0.5″ cubes. Thread onto skewers – 4 to 5 pieces per skewer.
2. Combine kecap manis and butter, then brush onto chicken.
3. Cook the skewers on a hot BBQ (outdoor grill) or on the stove in a large non stick fry pan (add a splash of oil, and make sure the skewers will fit in the pan). Grill/broiler would also work.
4. Serve, garnished with crushed peanuts, shallots and with lime wedges and Peanut Sauce on the side.

Peanut Sauce

1. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion and chillis and cook for 3 minutes until onion is translucent.
2. Turn heat down to medium, then add peanut butter, coconut milk, kecap manis, soy sauce and salt. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking occasionally.
3. Use a handheld stick to puree (so the onion and chilli blends throughout the sauce – this is key). Stir through crushed peanuts and lime juice and simmer for 2 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving or to room temperature – it will thicken.

References

Korniawati, D., & Rahim, A. (2024). The Influence of Patriarchal Culture on Social Life in Javanese Families in Wolio Sub-District. Cendikia: Media Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan, 14(6), 608–615.

Maehashi, N. (2024, April 3). Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce (Indonesian/Bali). RecipeTin Eats. https://www.recipetineats.com/satay-chicken-with-peanut-sauce/

The recipe for the satay chicken skewers and peanut sauce is in this paper. This website is a blog that provides the instructions, directions, and notes for satay chicken.

Nasir, M. A. (2019). Revisiting the Javanese Muslim slametan: Islam, Local Tradition, Honor and Symbolic Communication. Al-Jāmi‘ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 58(2), 333–358.

Purnama, A. (2024). Indonesia’s Social Groupings: Suku Bangsa Reevaluation and Race and Ethnicity Recontextualization [Preprint]. Ethnicities.

Soenjoto, W. P. P. (2022). Islam Kejawen as an Adoption of Local Wisdom and Islamic Development in Javanese Communities. SHAHiH: Journal of Islamicate Multidisciplinary, 7(1), 67–76.

Vogue. (2023, March 15). How Generations of Indonesian Women are Preserving an Ancient Juicing Tradition.