Indonesian Spicy Sweet Soy Chicken (Ayam Rica Kecap)

Ayam Rica Kecap: A Delightful Indonesian Chicken Dish

This recipe for Ayam Rica Kecap brings a tantalizing taste of Indonesian cuisine to your table. Rich with aromatic spices and the sweet depth of kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), this dish is sure to impress. Here’s a step-by-step guide to preparing this flavorful chicken dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg chicken (cut into pieces, as preferred)

For the Spice Paste:

• 3 red chilies (lombok merah)
• 10 shallots (bawang merah)
• 10 cloves garlic (bawang putih)
• 15 small chilies (lombok biasa; add more if you prefer extra heat)
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger (jahe)
• 1 thumb-sized piece of galangal (laos), crushed
• 1 stalk lemongrass (serai), crushed
• Salt (to taste)
• Sugar (to taste)
• Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) (to taste)
• Turmeric powder (kunyit bubuk)
• Black pepper powder (lada bubuk)
• Flavor enhancer (penyedap rasa)
• Cooking oil (for sautéing)
• 1 1/2 small glasses of water

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • In a food processor or mortar and pestle, blend together the red chilies, shallots, garlic, and small chilies until you achieve a smooth paste.

2. Sauté the Spice Paste:

   • Heat a sufficient amount of cooking oil in a large pan over medium heat.
   • Add the spice paste, crushed galangal, and crushed lemongrass. Sauté until the mixture becomes fragrant and the spices are cooked through.

3. Cook the Chicken:

   • Pour in the water and bring the mixture to a boil.
   • Add the chicken pieces to the pan, stirring to coat them evenly with the spice paste.

4. Season the Dish:

   • Season with salt, sugar, black pepper, turmeric powder, and flavor enhancer according to your taste preferences.
   • Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

5. Simmer:

   • Reduce the heat to low and let the dish simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally to ensure that the spices do not burn and the chicken cooks evenly.

6. Final Touches:

   • Adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more kecap manis if you prefer a sweeter flavor or additional salt and pepper to taste.

7. Serve:

   • Once the chicken is tender and the sauce has reduced to a rich, flavorful consistency, remove from heat. Serve hot and enjoy the deliciously spicy and sweet notes of Ayam Rica Kecap.

This dish pairs beautifully with steamed rice, making for a satisfying and authentic Indonesian meal that’s full of vibrant flavors and aromatic spices. Enjoy your cooking adventure with Ayam Rica Kecap! 🌟