Indonesian Sweet Soy Chicken Stew (Semur Ayam Kecap)

Semur Ayam Kecap: A Flavorful Indonesian Stew

Ingredients:

For the Spice Paste:

• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 shallots
• 1 piece ginger
• 1 piece galangal
• 11 red curly chilies

For the Stir-Fry:

• 1 ½ medium-sized onions
• 3 large bird’s eye chilies (optional, can be blended into the spice paste for extra heat)

For the Stew:

• 3 large potatoes
• 1 kg chicken, cut into pieces
• Salt to taste
• Sugar to taste
• 1 packet of soup seasoning
• Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) to taste
• Cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Ingredients:

   • Clean and cut the chicken into pieces. Peel and roughly chop the potatoes. Wash all the ingredients thoroughly and set aside.

2. Fry Chicken and Potatoes:

   • Lightly fry the chicken pieces and potatoes in hot oil until they are partially cooked. Remove and drain on paper towels.

3. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • Blend the garlic, shallots, ginger, galangal, and red curly chilies into a smooth paste.

4. Sauté Aromatics:

   • In a large pan or Dutch oven, heat some oil and sauté the chopped onions and bird’s eye chilies until fragrant. Add the prepared spice paste and cook until the paste is aromatic.

5. Simmer the Stew:

   • Add enough water to cover the ingredients and stir in the soup seasoning, salt, and sugar to taste. Bring to a boil.

6. Combine Ingredients:

   • Add the fried chicken and potatoes to the pot. Pour in the sweet soy sauce to taste. Allow the stew to simmer until the chicken and potatoes are fully cooked and the flavors meld together. If desired, mix a small amount of cornstarch with water and add to the stew to thicken the sauce slightly.

7. Final Touches:

   • Continue to simmer until the sauce reduces and thickens to your liking. Adjust seasoning if needed.

8. Serve:

   • Remove from heat and serve hot. For an extra touch, you can use a strainer to remove the soup seasoning packet before serving.

Tips:

• To avoid having the soup seasoning packet interfere with your meal, place it in a strainer and submerge it in the broth while cooking.

Enjoy your delightful and aromatic Semur Ayam Kecap, a comforting Indonesian dish that combines tender chicken with rich, sweet soy flavors and hearty potatoes!