Ayam Sambel: Spicy Indonesian Fried Chicken
Ingredients:
- 1/2 kg chicken (cut into pieces)
- 1 tomato (chopped)
- 5 red chilies
- 6 bird’s eye chilies
- 3 shallots
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cm ginger (peeled)
- 1/2 cm turmeric (peeled)
- Sugar, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- A small amount of water
Instructions:
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Prepare the Chicken: Begin by thoroughly cleaning the chicken pieces. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the chicken until it is fully cooked and golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
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Make the Spice Paste: In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed. Fry the red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, shallots, garlic, ginger, and turmeric until they are softened and fragrant. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
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Cook the Spice Mixture: Return the pan to the heat and pour in the blended spice paste. Sauté the paste over medium heat until the oil begins to separate from the paste and the mixture becomes aromatic.
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Add Tomato and Seasonings: Add the chopped tomato to the pan, along with salt, sugar, and soy sauce. Stir well and cook until the tomato softens and the flavors meld together. If the mixture appears too thick, add a small amount of water to reach your desired consistency.
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Combine and Finish: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. Once the sauce is ready, add the fried chicken pieces back into the pan. Gently stir to coat the chicken with the sauce and allow it to heat through.
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Serve: Once the chicken is well-coated and heated through, remove from heat. Serve hot with steamed rice or your favorite side dishes.
Enjoy the vibrant and spicy flavors of this traditional Indonesian Ayam Sambel, perfect for a satisfying meal that brings a touch of authentic Southeast Asian cuisine to your table!
