Jimmy’s Sate Sauce Guide

Jimmy’s Saté Sauce is the secret behind the rich, nutty satay flavour found in many Aussie Chinese restaurants. This guide covers what it is, how to use it, the best mixing ratios, plus easy recipes like satay chicken stir fry, noodles and marinades.

What Is Jimmy’s Sate Sauce?

Jimmy’s Saté Sauce (also known as Jimmy’s Saté Paste) is a Malaysian-style (made in Hong Kong) satay base made from roasted peanuts, garlic, shallots, spices, chilli and a touch of shrimp paste. It’s thick, fragrant and designed to be mixed with water, stock or coconut milk to create a glossy satay sauce or marinade.

It’s used by countless Asian restaurants across Australia (and the world). If you’ve ever wondered why your homemade satay doesn’t taste the same, this is why.

What Does Jimmy’s Taste Like?

It’s nutty, savoury, slightly spicy and loaded with umami. Unlike sweet peanut-based satay sauces, Jimmy’s has depth, saltiness and aromatics that give you that classic Aussie-Chinese flavour we all love.

Where to Buy Jimmy’s in Australia

You’ll find it at:

• Any good Asian grocery store
• Harris Farm
• Independent supermarkets
• Online at Amazon and Asian Pantry

Why I Recommend Jimmy’s Sate Sauce

There’s no sponsorship here – it’s just the product I use in my own kitchen because it consistently delivers:

• Restaurant-style satay flavour at home
• No fuss mixing or complicated ingredients
• Takes meals from “fine” to “seriously good”
• Works with any protein or veg
• Makes weeknights easier

If you love big flavour without doing much, it’s worth having a jar in your pantry.

How to use Jimmy’s sate sauce

Jimmy’s Saté Sauce is more versatile than most people realise. You can use it in stir fries, marinades, noodle dishes, dipping sauces and even burgers. It is a concentrated paste, so start small and adjust to taste. Here are the simplest and most reliable ways to use it.

Stir-Fries
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons to a wok or large pan along with some oyster sauce and soy sauce and toss with chicken and vegetables for an easy satay chicken stir fry. You can use any protein you like.

Marinades
Combine the paste with ingredients like soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine and oil to create flavour-packed marinades for wings, skewers and chicken thighs. For a full restaurant-style marinade, try my Jimmy’s Satay Chicken Wings.

Noodles
Whisk with a splash of water, oyster sauce, soy sauce or kecap manis, pinch of sugar and a dash of sesame oil to make a quick, punchy noodle sauce or try my creamy peanut noodle recipe using Jimmy’s. It also works well with Satay Chicken Curry served with noodles or rice.

Creamy Satay Sauce
Add coconut milk to the paste for a richer, smoother and more velvety satay sauce.

Peanut Satay Sauce
Combine equal amounts of Jimmy’s sate with your favourite peanut butter. Add hot water to loosen until you reach the consistency your after. Add a pinch of sugar and some finely diced red chillies if you like it hot. Serve with skewers or use as a salad dressing.

Dipping Sauce
Combine Jimmy’s with a little peanut butter, kecap manis and coconut milk – serve with grilled meats (chicken, beef, pork), skewers, spring rolls, dumplings, or raw vegetables.

Veggie Stir-Fries
It pairs beautifully with most vegetables. Broccoli, capsicum, carrots, cabbage, green beans and zucchini are especially good.

Condiment
Add a spoonful to soups, stews, or even use it on a burger or with french fries for a unique twist.

While it can be used straight from the jar, it is widely used in restaurants in combination with other ingredients like coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, water and/or lime juice to create a more balanced and complex sauce.

Need side dish ideas? Check out my full guide on what to serve with satay chicken.

Best Tips for Using Jimmy’s Sate Sauce

1. Start small – Jimmy’s is strong.
Begin with 1 tablespoon in any recipe, then taste and adjust. Adding more is easy… taking it out, isn’t.

2. Loosen it with water, stock, coconut milk/cream or evaporated milk.
Jimmy’s is a thick paste. Most dishes require 1/3 – 1/2 cup liquid per tablespoon to turn it into a glossy sauce.

3. Balance the flavour with something sweet, salty or creamy.
Jimmy’s tastes best when paired with:

• soy sauce (salt)
• a good pinch of sugar (balance)
• a splash of vinegar or lime juice (brightness)
• coconut milk (creaminess)

4. Don’t cook it for too long.
Add Jimmy’s toward the end of cooking to preserve its flavour. Overcooking can dull the aromatics.

5. Jimmy’s works with more than just chicken.
Try it with:

• beef
• prawns
• pork
• tofu
• vegetable stir-fries
• udon or hokkien noodles
• rice

6. A splash of coconut milk instantly softens the flavour.
If the sauce feels too strong or salty, add 2–3 tablespoons coconut milk to mellow it out.

7. Add it at the right moment.
Stir it into the pan once your aromatics are cooked and the pan is hot.

8. Serve
Serve it warm or at room temperature for the best flavour and consistency.

How to Store Jimmy’s Saté Sauce

1. Store in the fridge after opening
Once opened, it should always be refrigerated.

2. Stir well before each use
It naturally separates (oil rises, paste sinks) so stir well to get an even consistency.

3. Keep the rim clean
Wipe the jar rim with a clean paper towel to prevent crusting – this keeps the seal tight and prevents drying.

4. Don’t double-dip
Use a clean spoon every time to avoid contamination and extend shelf life.

5. Long shelf life
Jimmy’s lasts months in the fridge, but if the surface dries out or the oils smell stale, it’s time to replace.

6. Freeze it
If you don’t use it often, scrape tablespoons into an ice cube tray, freeze, then store in a bag.

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Recipes Using Jimmy’s Saté Sauce

Here are some quick and easy recipes using Jimmy’s Saté Sauce as well as recipes already featured on my blog. I’ll keep updating this list as new recipes go up.

5-Minute Satay Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tablespoons Jimmy’s Saté Paste
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 165ml can coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon kecap manis
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar

Method:
Place everything into a small pan and simmer for 2–3 minutes until glossy and smooth. Add water if you want it thinner.

Serve it with:
Chicken, prawns, noodles, rice bowls, grilled veggies or anything off the BBQ. It also makes a great dipping sauce for spring rolls, rice paper rolls, dumplings or fried appetisers.

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Quick Satay Wing Marinade

This recipe is for approximately 1kg of chicken wings

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tablespoons Jimmy’s Sate Sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated ginger (optional)

Instructions:

1. Whisk all the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined.
2. Add the chicken wings to the bowl or a large sealable bag and toss to coat every piece evenly.
3. Marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. For best results and deeper flavour, you can leave them for up to 3-4 hours or overnight.
4. Cook the wings by baking at 200°C (180C fan forced) for 45-50 minutes, turning them halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through. You can also grill or air-fry them.
5. Serve the wings on their own, or with an extra side of warmed Jimmy’s Satay sauce for dipping. 

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Satay Scrambled Eggs

For the die-hard Jimmy’s lovers! These Satay Scrambled Eggs are soft, creamy, and have the perfect satay kick. Add a little for a subtle flavour hit, or pile in more if you want a stronger sate fix. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or late night snacks after a night out. Yep. Happens to the best of us.

Serves 2 or 1 hungry person

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Recipes on Feed Me Kate using Jimmy’s

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• Creamy Satay Chicken Curry
• Grilled Satay Chicken with Sate Sauce
• Chicken Satay Stir-fry
• Satay Chicken Noodles
• Satay Chicken Wings

Jimmy’s Saté Sauce delivers that unmistakable Chinese satay flavour, and this guide brings everything together so you can get the most out of it – what it is, how to use it and the best ways to cook with it. Keep a jar in the pantry and you’ve always got big, bold flavour on hand. I’ll continue updating this page with new recipes, tips and ideas as the collection grows, so it stays your go-to hub for all things Jimmy’s.

Kate x