Blazing Indonesian Ayam Mercon: Spicy Chicken Delight

Fiery Ayam Mercon

Spice up your meal times with this explosive Indonesian chicken dish, Ayam Mercon. Bursting with vibrant flavors and a spicy kick, this recipe is perfect for those who love their food with a bit of heat. Whether you prefer chicken feet, wings, or any other part, this dish will surely satisfy your craving for bold and zesty flavors.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg chicken (feet, wings, or your preferred part)
• 3 stalks lemongrass
• 25 curly red chilies
• 20 red bird’s eye chilies
• 1 tomato
• 2 thumb-sized pieces of galangal
• 3 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced
• 10 shallots
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 cup water
• Salt to taste
• Brown sugar to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken:

   • Rinse the chicken thoroughly and place it in a pot.
   • Add the lemongrass stalks and enough water to cover the chicken.
   • Boil the chicken until it is fully cooked and tender. Set aside.

2. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • In a frying pan, sauté the curly red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, tomato, shallots, and garlic until they become soft and fragrant.
   • Remove from heat and transfer the sautéed ingredients to a mortar and pestle or a blender. Blend until smooth to create a spice paste.

3. Cook the Spice Paste:

   • In the same frying pan, heat a bit of oil and add the blended spice paste.
   • Add the thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves and the galangal pieces to the pan.
   • Sauté the mixture until the paste is cooked and its vibrant red color emerges.

4. Add Liquid and Seasoning:

   • Pour in the cup of water, and season with salt and brown sugar to taste.
   • Stir well and let the mixture simmer for a few minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld together.

5. Combine Chicken with Spice Paste:

   • Add the cooked chicken to the pan, stirring well to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated with the spice mixture.
   • Continue to cook on medium heat, allowing the chicken to absorb the flavors of the spice paste. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

6. Final Touches:

   • Once the spice paste has been fully absorbed by the chicken and the dish reaches your desired consistency, remove it from heat.
   • Serve the fiery Ayam Mercon hot, garnished with extra slices of kaffir lime leaves if desired.

Tips for Serving:

• This dish pairs excellently with steamed white rice or coconut rice, which helps balance the intense spiciness.
• For an authentic Indonesian experience, accompany the Ayam Mercon with fresh vegetables or a side of cooling cucumber slices.

Enjoy your fiery Ayam Mercon, a dish that brings the heat and flavor of Indonesia straight to your table!