Sate Kambing & Sate Klatak

DishGoat MeatSkewered Dish

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Sate Kambing & Sate Klatak

DishGoat MeatSkewered Dish

Goat meat skewers. Known for their distinct flavor and chewy texture, popular as an energy-boosting food.

'Kambing' means goat in Indonesian, and 'Sate Kambing' refers to goat meat skewers. Characterized by a unique flavor and chewy texture, it's particularly popular among men as a stamina-boosting food. Yogyakarta, the ancient capital, boasts a unique variation called 'Sate Klatak,' which stands out from the rest. It uses bicycle spokes as skewers and is seasoned only with salt and pepper—an ultimate simplicity that maximizes the meat's natural savory flavor.

Features of Sate Kambing

Typical Sate Kambing involves skewering diced goat meat (usually from young goats) and grilling it with a 'Kecap Manis' (sweet soy sauce)-based marinade. Preparations often involve marinating the meat with pineapple juice to tenderize it and reduce the characteristic gamey smell. Instead of peanut sauce, it's commonly served with a soy sauce-based dip containing chopped shallots and chili peppers for a lighter taste. Its rich flavor pairs excellently with Indonesian beer.

Unique Cooking Method of Sate Klatak

Yogyakarta's specialty, Sate Klatak, employs a highly unique cooking method. Its most defining feature is the use of bicycle wheel spokes (iron skewers) instead of bamboo. Iron conducts heat better than bamboo, ensuring the meat cooks evenly from the inside out, resulting in a perfectly charred exterior and incredibly juicy, tender interior. The name 'Klatak' is said to derive from the 'klatak-klatak' sound the meat makes as it grills. This method, possible only with absolute confidence in the meat's quality, represents the ultimate form of sate.

Simple Seasoning and How to Eat

The seasoning for Sate Klatak is incredibly simple: just salt, pepper, and a touch of garlic. No marinades or sauces are used, allowing the pure, unadulterated flavor of the meat to shine through. The grilled sate is traditionally served dipped in 'Gulai,' a curry-like goat soup. The simply salted sate meeting the spicy soup creates a new dimension of flavor in the mouth. It's a dish that embodies the beauty of subtraction, highlighting the quality of the ingredients to the extreme.