Ayam Bacem Delight
Ingredients:
Main Ingredient:
- 1 whole chicken, cleaned and cut into pieces
Spice Paste:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons roasted coriander seeds
- 3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 5 shallots
- 3 cloves garlic
Other Ingredients:
- 6 bay leaves
- 2 large pieces of galangal, crushed
- 70 grams palm sugar
- 4 tablespoons sweet soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 liter water or coconut water
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste, dissolved in 100 ml water and strained
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Chicken:
- Wash the chicken thoroughly and cut it into desired pieces. Set aside to drain.
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Make the Spice Paste:
- Grind the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, shallots, and garlic into a smooth paste.
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Cook the Chicken:
- In a large pot, combine the water (or coconut water), spice paste, bay leaves, galangal, palm sugar, sweet soy sauce, granulated sugar, salt, and tamarind water. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add the chicken pieces to the boiling mixture. Continue to cook until the chicken is fully cooked and the flavors have infused. The liquid should reduce significantly, leaving a thick sauce that clings to the chicken. At this stage, the chicken is already delicious and can be eaten as is.
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Frying the Chicken:
- Heat a generous amount of oil in a deep pan or wok.
- Fry the cooked chicken pieces for a short time until they turn golden brown. Be cautious not to fry for too long as the high sugar content can cause the chicken to burn quickly.
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Serving:
- Serve the fried chicken with steamed white rice and sambal terasi (fermented shrimp paste chili sauce) for a delightful meal.
Tips:
- Storage: Before frying, you can store the cooked chicken in the refrigerator for future use.
- Visual Guide: Follow the step-by-step photos for a visual guide on preparation and cooking.
Enjoy your delicious Ayam Bacem, a sweet and savory Indonesian dish that pairs perfectly with rice and sambal! Yummy! 😋
