How Malaysia Airlines makes those amazing satay sticks
By David Flynn, September 2 2017
It's the highly praised signature dish of Malaysia Airlines – delicious satay sticks served in business and first class to passengers who more often than not request a second helping.
It's also one of the best inflight meals we've ever had, perhaps due in equal parts to its authenticity and simplicity.
Australian Business Traveller went behind the scenes of at Malaysia Airline's catering facility to see how these inflight delights make their way from kitchen to cabin.
Satay is among around 30,000 meals prepared each day by Brahim’s Airline Catering, and their popularity means that as many as 26,000 satay sticks are cooked daily, along with 200 litres of the rich peanut sauce.
Even the satay served on flights to Kuala Lumpur is prepared in this kitchen.
The satay sticks use beef and chicken tenderloin cuts marinated in a mix of shallots, turmeric, garlic, lemongrass and galangal.
As you can see, the chunks are threaded by hand onto wooden skewers...
... and then cooked in the traditional method on an open charcoal grill...
... with staff fanning the flames to keep a consistent heat.
Once cooked to 60 degrees, the sticks are loaded quickly moved to a refrigeration unit where the temperature is quickly dropped to below five degrees.
But they don't stay there for long – within 12 hours they're loaded onto a flight and served up to eager travellers with generous dollops of that morish sauce.
And yes, on the flight home from KL to Sydney we ordered seconds.
Also read: Malaysia Airlines partners with Poh for Nyonya Chicken Curry
David Flynn travelled to Kuala Lumpur as a guest of Malaysia Airlines.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3033
Thanks David.
What's that red thing at the end of each chicken skewer (2nd and 3rd picture from the top)? Is it a piece of capsicum? Is that what they use to keep each skewer moist?
Or is that not a satay at all but some sort of kebab?
The satay served on board is just gorgeous...moist and succulent!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2014
Total posts 11
i wish they would hand out a spoon when serving these, the sauce is the best part!
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2501
Chris, that's so true - several fellow travellers on my trip made the same observation, a shame for all that sauce to go to watse – although I would opt for a lovely roti to soak up the sauce!
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3033
Ask for one! I always do!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1390
Can you get their sauce recipie !
Must also say that Air Asia also does a great little satay skewers as well with the compressed rice- need to preorder it though
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 246
I could just eat that as a meal rather than snacks.
I had second or third, but who's counting... helping too in J class...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1259
I always ask for seconds. They rival SQ's imho.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2017
Total posts 2
Could never get enough of these.
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 70
Personally thought they were quite average on a recent return flight to KL. Nowhere near as good as SQ's.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 May 2015
Total posts 78
Great pics and looks delicious. However, I flew KL-Langkawi-KL last month in Business and the food was shocking on both flights (inedible and amongst the worst food I've ever had on a flight). On the other hand I flew KL-Bangkok and used the Malaysia Airlines First Class lounge in the satellite terminal (which I didn't realise even existed) which was absolutely superb. I was there during a quite period when there was probably 10 people in the entire lounge. The staff, service, and a la carte dining were outstanding (definitely a notch above my experiences in Qantas' First Lounges). Let's hope the lounge they are currently renovating in the main terminal is as good.
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 51
Hah, flew MH J back in July KUL-SYD on their red-eye flight. Had the Satay and can vouch for their goodness, tastiness; also had seconds.
03 May 2013
Total posts 594
The ceiling in the kitchen photo's doesn't install much confidence hygiene wise. Those tiles are falling leaving gaps which dust or anything else, living or innate can get through?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 598
I was also questioning their hygiene...they don't even wear the masks properly covering both mouth and nose. I wonder if SQ employee better hygiene in their kitchens than MH.
03 May 2013
Total posts 594
*......instil confidence....
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
31 Oct 2016
Total posts 73
You mentioned the ones served on the way TO KL are prepared there as well, presumably they ship outbound on the aircraft, and then back.. That could lead to some interesting issues refrigeration wise..
03 Sep 2017
Total posts 51
Yummolicious!!!
I got some put aside for my family for breakfast as they wanted to sleep soon after takeoff. Needless to say, I had 2 helpings, on both services. ;-)
"Personally thought they were quite average on a recent return flight to KL. Nowhere near as good as SQ's. "
05 Sep 2017
Total posts 9
Absolutely loved the satay sticks and the rest of the menu was pretty good also. Recently flew KUL-NRT return and was highly impressed with the food compared to the often peculiar Rockpool fare on QF.
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