Satay Beef Sandwich. Flavourful satay beef sandwiched between fluffy bread. A simple sandwich that serves well for lunch, as a snack or even breakfast. Popular in Hong Kong or at any HK style café.
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What is Satay Beef Sandwich?
Satay Beef Sandwich is a fluffy milk bread sandwich filled with savory, nutty, tender beef packed with satay flavors! Traditionally, you'll often find this delicious sandwich served at many Hong Kong style cafe's, also known as "cha cha teng" and it's usually served for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon snack for tea time with a Hong Kong style milk tea. This sandwich originates from Hong Kong and it's very affordable and filling. Making it the perfect dish to eat if you're looking for something quick and satisfying.
This Cantonese satay beef sandwich recipe is one of my favourites to have at any HK style café. There is something so satisfying munching on this aromatic and tasty meat sandwich. There aren't any veggies in this sandwich but you can sneak in some lettuce if you wish. I love making this sandwich especially if I have leftover satay beef that I made the night before. This beef sandwich takes about 30-35 minutes to prepare and most of the time will go towards preparing the beef. If you’re fast, it shouldn’t take that long because frying the beef only requires 8 minutes believe it or not.
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients for this Chinese satay beef sandwich:
- Flank Steak: or substitute with sirloin tip steak, tri-tip steak, hanger steak, top round steak
- Milk bread or white bread: I highly recommend Asian-style milk bread sold at many Asian bakeries or Asian grocery stores
- Butter
- Neutral oil: like vegetable oil, avocado oil or any scentless oil with a high smoke point.
Satay Beef Marinade
- Baking soda: this tenderizes the beef, do not skip!
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce of your choice.
- Cornstarch
- Garlic powder
- Cold water
Satay Sauce
- Ginger powder: I recommend ginger powder for even distribution.
- Smooth peanut butter: avoid crunchy peanut butter
- Regular soy sauce
- Lemongrass: fresh or frozen lemongrass works fine. Only use the white parts of the lemongrass and avoid using the harder parts
- Brown sugar: or white granulated sugar
- Shallot
- Garlic
- Sesame oil
- Red chili flakes: omit if you can't tolerate spice
Note: Your Asian grocery store will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients.
How to make a Satay Beef Sandwich
- Thinly slice flank steak against the grain on an angle. Transfer beef to a mixing bowl. Tip: if you freeze the steak for 30-45 minutes exposed, this will allow you to slice the steak very thinly.
- Add marinade ingredients to beef. Mix with tongs or your hands and then pack the beef into a ball so that the marinade really soaks into the meat. Set aside as you work on the other ingredients.
- In a blender or food processor, add Satay Sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Fry marinated beef until the edges are brown and the meat is 50-60% cooked, about 5 minutes.
- Then when the beef is 75% cooked, pour in the satay sauce and mix. Cook for 1-2 minutes until beef is cooked through, no longer red and most the liquids have evaporated. Remove off heat to cool down. Optional: Transfer the beef to a cutting board and finely chop your cooked beef. This makes it easier to eat.
- Butter the slices of bread from edge to edge.
- Add some of the beef to one slice and cover it with another slice of bread. Enjoy warm!
Expert Tips
- Freeze your flank steak for 30-45 minutes ahead of time and then slice it. It’ll allow for you to make thin slices easily.
- Marinate beef overnight for ultra tender beef with beef marinade ingredients only.
- Use a high-power blender or food processor to blending your satay ingredients into a smooth paste to make the process faster.
- Generously butter that bread! It’s important you do or the residual juices from the satay beef will soak your bread.
FAQ
Can I use store bought satay sauce instead?
Yes, you can substitute with store bought satay sauce to make things easier.
Other recipes you may like!
- Hong Kong Ham Egg Sandwich
- Satay Beef Noodle Soup
- Chinese Style Satay Beef
- Cantonese Cream Corn Fish
- Chinese Curry Beef Puffs
- Chinese Salt And Pepper Pork
📖 Recipe
Easy Hong Kong Style Satay Beef Sandwich
Ingredients
- 0.55 lbs flank beef steak sliced thinly against the grain
- 4 slices milk bread or white bread
- 4 tablespoon butter for spreading on bread
- ½ teaspoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Beef marinade:
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon regular soy sauce (not dark soy sauce)
- ¾ teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon water cold
Satay Sauce:
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon peanut butter smooth kind
- 1 ½ tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoon brown sugar or white sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass use the white parts only and you can use fresh or frozen
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ shallot or onion
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes optional
Instructions
- Thinly slice flank steak against the grain on an angle. Transfer beef to a mixing bowl. Tip: if you freeze the steak for 30-45 minutes exposed, this will allow you to slice the steak very thinly.
- Add marinade ingredients to beef. Mix with tongs or your hands and then pack the beef into a ball so that the marinade really soaks into the meat. Set aside as you work on the other ingredients.
- In a blender or food processor, add Satay Sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Fry marinated beef until the edges are brown and the meat is 50-60% cooked, about 5 minutes.
- Then when the beef is 75% cooked, pour in the satay sauce and mix. Cook for 1-2 minutes until beef is cooked through, no longer red and most the liquids have evaporated. Remove off heat to cool down. Optional: Transfer the beef to a cutting board and finely chop your cooked beef. This makes it easier to eat.
- Butter the slices of bread from edge to edge.
- Add some of the beef to one slice and cover it with another slice of bread. Enjoy warm!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
That was a great tip for how long to marinate the beef... it really makes such a big difference!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I wasn't lying when I said your recipes always make me hungry! This one is no exception!! I'm sure its so flavorful!!