Indonesian Sweet Soy Chicken Stew (Semur Ayam Kecap)

Semur Ayam Kecap

Ingredients:

• 1 kg chicken, cut into 10 pieces
• 1 lime, for marinating
• Cooking oil, as needed
• Water, as needed
• Masako (seasoning cube), to taste
• Kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), to taste

For the Spice Mix:

• Salt, to taste
• Sugar, to taste
• 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
• 1 sheet kaffir lime leaf
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 piece galangal, bruised

For the Ground Spice Paste:

• 6 shallots
• 4 cloves garlic
• Black pepper, to taste
• Coriander, to taste
• 2 cm turmeric, peeled
• 5 black peppercorns
• 1 small tomato
• 3 large red chilies (or to taste)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken:

   • Clean the chicken pieces thoroughly and pat them dry. Rub the chicken with lime juice, salt, and black pepper. Allow it to marinate for 10 minutes.

2. Fry the Chicken:

   • Heat some cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the marinated chicken pieces until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • While the chicken is frying, blend the shallots, garlic, black pepper, coriander, turmeric, peppercorns, tomato, and red chilies into a smooth paste.

4. Cook the Spice Paste:

   • In the same pan used for frying the chicken, add a little more oil if needed. Sauté the spice paste over medium heat until it becomes fragrant and changes color.

5. Simmer the Semur:

   • Add a small amount of water to the spice paste and bring it to a boil. Then, add the fried chicken pieces to the pan. Season with salt, Masako seasoning, sugar, and kecap manis to taste. Stir well to coat the chicken with the spice mixture.

6. Add Aromatics:

   • Add the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, bay leaves, and galangal to the pan. Continue to cook the chicken over low heat, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.

7. Finish and Serve:

   • Once the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has reduced to your desired consistency, taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve the Semur Ayam Kecap hot with steamed rice.

Enjoy this aromatic and flavorful Indonesian dish that brings a taste of tradition to your table!