 Sata being cooked on a grill | |
| Type | Dumpling |
|---|---|
| Course | Snack |
| Place of origin | Malaysia |
| Region or state | Kemaman,Terengganu[1] |
| Created by | Terengganu Malays |
| Main ingredients | Coconut,sardines |
Sata orsatar is a traditional dish from the Malaysian state ofTerengganu, consisting of spiced fish meat wrapped inbanana leaves and grilled over a charcoal fire. It is a type of Malaysian fish cake. The main ingredients of sata are gratedcoconut,sardines,ginger,onions andchili peppers.
Sata is not to be confused withsatay, another dish popular in Malaysia. A sata takes on the shape of a small pyramid, and is sold in batches, joined together in askewer.[2][3] It is then sold as an affordable street food.[4][5][6] Beside locals, the food has been a favorite among visitors to Terengganu,[4] with the districts ofMarang andKemaman being a popular source for the snack.[citation needed] It is also enjoyed by other states on the East Coast, namelyPahang andKelantan.[5][7][4] With its rising popularity, sata is also available in theKlang Valley,[8] albeit sometimes at higher prices.[6][9] Sata recipes differ as each family has their own, passed down from one generation to the next.[10][11] Sata vendors also vary, from fixed stalls[5] to temporary stands at bazaars held duringRamadan.[8] The sticks used to pierce sata can be made frombamboo, metal, ornibong palm.[11]
The snack is believed to originate from fishermen hoping to store excess catch without them going to waste;[12][9][10] sardines used to be the main ingredient because they tend to end up asbycatch,[11] and now different types of fish, such as theyellowstripe scad,crimson jobfish, andSpanish mackerel, are also used.[citation needed] Grilling over charcoal fire reduces the microbial count of the fish to safe levels,[citation needed] while adding ginger and chili, both known to have antibacterial effect, further reduces the amount of bacteria.[10] Wrapping it in banana leaves also protects it from external source of contamination.[citation needed] Besides having antibacterial benefits, these steps also adds fragrance and flavor to the food.[12][9]
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