Ultimate Spicy Ayam Rica-Rica: Indonesian Chicken Delight

Ingredients:

1 kg chicken, cut into pieces
3 lime leaves
1 segment of galangal (crushed)
1 segment of ginger (crushed)
1 lime (juiced)
20 red chili peppers
30 bird’s eye chilies
1 packet of Ladaku seasoning
1 packet of Royco seasoning (optional, skip if you prefer not to use a seasoning mix)
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 candlenuts
5 shallots
1 stalk of lemongrass (white part only)
Green onions (for garnish)

Instructions:

Prepare the Chicken:
- Clean the chicken pieces thoroughly and mix them with the lime juice. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.
- Rinse the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Allow it to rest for another 10 minutes.
Fry the Chicken:
- Heat oil in a pan and fry the chicken pieces until they are golden brown. Remove and set aside.
Prepare the Spice Paste:
- Slice the garlic and green onions.
- Blend the lemongrass, shallots, candlenuts, red chili peppers, and bird’s eye chilies into a smooth paste.
Cook the Spice Paste:
- In the same pan, sauté the sliced garlic and green onions until fragrant.
- Add the blended spice paste, lime leaves, galangal, and ginger to the pan. Stir well and cook until aromatic.
Combine and Simmer:
- Return the fried chicken to the pan, mixing thoroughly with the spice paste.
- Add a splash of water and the lime juice. Season with salt and sugar to taste.
- Cook the chicken until the sauce reduces and thickens, stirring occasionally.
Finish and Serve:
- Once the sauce has reduced and the chicken is well-coated, sprinkle with chopped green onions.
- Serve the spicy Ayam Rica-Rica hot with steamed rice.

Enjoy your flavorful and spicy Ayam Rica-Rica, a true taste of Indonesian cuisine!