Spicy Ayam RicaRica (Indonesian Spicy Chicken)
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 1 lime
- 2 stalks of lemongrass, white parts only, thinly sliced
- 5 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
Spice Paste (Blended):
- 7 shallots
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 2 red curly chilies, sliced
- 25 red bird’s eye chilies
- 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
- 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric
- Salt, sugar, pepper, and water to taste
Instructions
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Prepare the Chicken:
- Clean the chicken thoroughly and cut it into serving pieces if desired.
- Squeeze the juice of one lime over the chicken pieces, ensuring they are well-coated.
- Let the chicken sit for about 15 minutes to marinate, then rinse it again to remove the lime juice.
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Make the Spice Paste:
- Blend together the shallots, garlic, red curly chilies, bird’s eye chilies, ginger, and turmeric until you have a smooth paste.
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Cook the Chicken:
- Heat a bit of oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Sauté the blended spice paste until it becomes fragrant.
- Add the sliced kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass to the pan, stirring to combine.
- Pour in enough water to create a sauce, and season with salt, sugar, and pepper to taste.
- Taste the spice mixture and adjust the seasoning as needed.
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Simmer the Chicken:
- Add the chicken pieces to the pan, ensuring they are fully coated in the spice mixture.
- Cover the pan and let the chicken simmer over medium heat until the water reduces and the chicken is cooked through, allowing the flavors to infuse thoroughly. This should take about 30-40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
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Serve:
- Once the chicken is cooked and the sauce has thickened, remove the pan from the heat.
- Serve the Ayam RicaRica hot, garnished with extra sliced kaffir lime leaves if desired.
Enjoy the rich and spicy flavors of this traditional Indonesian dish, perfect for those who love a bit of heat in their meals!
