Strips of sirloin steak are marinated in a Thai-inspired coconut curry sauce, then threaded onto skewers and grilled until juicy.
This Beginner-Friendly Recipe Is Perfect for Newbie Grillers
These coconut beef skewers are everything I love about my Thai coconut beef curry, just with a smoky, grilled twist.
I’m always amazed by how just a few Thai flavors can create so much flavor! A simple 6-ingredient coconut red curry marinade works its magic, turning thin strips of steak into juicy, caramelized bites that are impossible to stop picking at straight off the skewer. I love threading the steak into ribbons instead of chunky cubes because every twist and fold creates more crispy, charred edges (my favorite part, for sure).
Fire up the outdoor grill when the weather cooperates, or grab a stovetop grill pan when it doesn’t. Serve some coconut rice on the side, and dinner is served!
Enjoy!
What’s in This Recipe?
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Steak — My favorite cut of beef for making skewers is sirloin steak. It’s lean, flavorful, and perfect for cooking quickly over high heat.
- Curry paste — I used my favorite red Thai curry paste, but green works too.
- Sweetened shredded coconut — Adds extra coconut flavor and plays up the sweet and savory nature of this dish. As the beef grills, the shredded coconut will get lightly toasted and add some textural contrast too.
- Coconut milk — Use full-fat canned coconut milk for the richest flavor. Avoid coconut milk from a carton, which is too watery and won’t provide enough moisture.
- Cilantro — If you’re an avid cilantro hater, you can omit it.
- Chopped peanuts — My garnish of choice for these Thai-style skewers.
Ingredient Swaps and Substitutions
- Replace the sirloin steak with tri tip or ribeye
- Add a squeeze of lime juice
- Use green curry paste instead of red
- Thread your favorite vegetables onto the skewers, such as bell pepper, red or yellow onion, or zucchini
- Swap the cilantro for Thai basil
How to Grill Coconut Beef Skewers
- Slice the steak into strips. I used to cube my beef and then thread it onto skewers, but cooking steak this way increases the cook time and creates unwieldy skewers that can be tough to flip over. For these skewers, I sliced the sirloin steak into long, thin strips; this helps the meat cook faster, makes for a more sturdy skewer, and gets the edges nice and caramelized.
- Marinate the steak for 1 hour. Add everything to a zip-top bag, squish it around, and pop into the fridge. The steak can safely sit in the marinade overnight, if you’d rather prep this before you go to bed.
- Assemble your skewers. To thread the strips of steak onto your skewers, you’ll need to gently wave the meat to create an “S” pattern to get it to fit.
Heidi’s Tip: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes first!
- Grill over medium-high heat. These beef skewers need to cook at 400ºF for 2 minutes per side (I like mine a little rosy in the middle).
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, leave a comment to tell us what you think, and tag me on Instagram @foodiecrush.
Grilled Coconut Beef Skewers Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds sirloin steak
- 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
- ⅓ cup canned coconut milk
- ¼ cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts
Instructions
- Marinate the beef in the curry mixture. Slice 1 ½ pounds sirloin steak into long, thick strips and place in a zippered gallon bag. Mix 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste in a small bowl with ⅓ cup canned coconut milk, ¼ cup sweetened shredded coconut, and 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves. Add to the gallon bag with the meat and marinate for 1 hour (up to overnight).
- Preheat the grill and assemble the skewers. Preheat an outdoor or indoor grill to 400°F. Thread the steak on skewers.
- Grill the skewers. Place the skewers on the preheated hot grill and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until the meat is done to your liking. Sprinkle the cooked skewers with 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts and more chopped cilantro before serving.
Nutrition
Sides to Make This a Meal
More Skewers to Throw on the Grill
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