Mushroom skewers will make you forget chicken satay
Indonesia’s famous satay typically features chicken, grilled on skewers and served with a spicy peanut sauce. Most vegan versions I’ve seen sub in tofu, tempeh, seitan or another soy- or wheat-based meat substitute. As much as I love all of those (with a special place in my heart for Indonesia’s own tempeh, of course), any one of them can be off-putting to home cooks: especially meat eaters, but even vegetarians and vegans. (I once received an email from a reader who told me that he and his family make every one of my recipes every week — except the handful that have featured tempeh.)
Here’s a version that will appeal to most everybody: Portobello Mushroom Satays. These skewers are quick to prepare and cook, and you can serve them as a fun, interactive appetizer for an omnivorous crowd or turn them into a main course with the addition of a little rice. The portobellos, of course, are the meatiest mushrooms around, so they’re a natural. Just cook in a grill pan or skillet (or, weather permitting, feel free to head outside to the grill). The sauce comes together easily — it’s a quick blend of peanut butter, ginger, lime juice, ground ancho chile and water — and a little toasted coconut offers a dash of sweetness and crunch. Eaters can dip, sprinkle and devour.
The recipe, from “Vegan in 7” by Rita Serano, lives up to the author’s promise of easy plantbased recipes built from a smart — and short — ingredient list. That’s something we all can get behind.
PORTOBELLO SATAYS WITH PEANUT SAUCE
4 servings
Serve with rice for a main course or without for an appetizer.
6 portobello mushroom caps
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¾ cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon ground ancho chile pepper
One 2-inch piece peeled, grated ginger root (2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons low-sodium tamari
¾ cup hot water, or more as needed
1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
1 cup unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
Soak eight wooden skewers in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes.
Scrape the dark gills from the mushrooms and discard, if desired (this keeps the mushrooms from turning black when you cook them). Slice each cap into four thick strips. Thread three slices lengthwise onto a skewer, and repeat with the remaining mushrooms and skewers. Sprinkle lightly with salt and let them sit while you make the sauce.
Combine the peanut butter, ancho chile, ginger, lime juice, tamari and hot water in a blender; puree to form a smooth, pourable sauce. If it seems too thick, blend in more water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the sauce is the consistency of cake batter. The yield is about 1 ¾ cups.
Heat a grill pan or large skillet over medium-high heat and lightly coat with the oil. Cook the mushroom skewers, a few at a time, until the mushrooms are tender, six to seven minutes on each side.
Meanwhile, toast the coconut: Heat a nonstick or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the coconut; cook, stirring frequently, until it turns golden brown. Transfer to a bowl.
Serve the skewers with the sauce and coconut on the side, allowing guests to dip and coat as they like.
Nutritional information per serving (using half the sauce): 350 calories, 11 g protein, 16 g carbohydrates, 30 g fat, 15 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 340 mg sodium, 6 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugar