Indonesian Spicy Chicken (Rica Rica Ayam) Recipe

Rica Rica Ayam (Spicy Chicken in Indonesian Style)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg chicken, cut into small pieces
• 2 bay leaves (daun salam)
• 2 kaffir lime leaves (daun jeruk)
• 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
• 2 thumb-sized pieces of ginger, bruised
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Cooking oil for sautéing
• Palm sugar (gula jawa) to taste
• Water as needed
• Oyster sauce to taste
• For the spice paste:
  • 4 shallots
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 dried red chilies
  • 3 curly red chilies
  • 6 bird’s eye chilies (red)
  • 1 red tomato
  • 2 candlenuts

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken:

   • Cut the chicken into small pieces and wash thoroughly. Set aside.

2. Make the Spice Paste:

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   • In a blender or food processor, combine the shallots, garlic, dried red chilies, curly red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, red tomato, and candlenuts. Blend until smooth.

3. Sauté the Spice Paste:

   • Heat cooking oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add the spice paste and sauté until fragrant and the oil starts to separate from the paste.

4. Add Aromatics:

   • Add the bruised lemongrass, bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves, and ginger to the pan. Continue to sauté for a few minutes to release their flavors.

5. Cook the Chicken:

   • Add the cleaned chicken pieces to the pan. Stir to coat the chicken with the spice paste and aromatics.

6. Simmer:

   • Pour in enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the chicken is tender and the water has reduced.

7. Season:

   • Stir in palm sugar, oyster sauce, salt, and a generous amount of black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and the chicken is well-coated with the spicy mixture.

8. Serve:

   • Once the sauce has reduced and thickened to your liking, remove from heat. Serve the Rica Rica Ayam hot with steamed white rice.

This vibrant and aromatic Indonesian dish combines spicy, sweet, and savory flavors for a delightful meal. Enjoy the rich taste of Rica Rica Ayam with a side of warm, fluffy rice for a complete and satisfying dining experience.