Simple Soto Ayam Medan: Indonesian Coconut Chicken Soup

Soto Ayam Medan Simple

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
• 1000 ml thin coconut milk (I use 1000 ml thin coconut milk + 500 ml water)
• 500 ml thick coconut milk
• 5 kaffir lime leaves
• 1 star anise
• 4 cardamom pods
• 3 stalks lemongrass, bruised
• 2 cm galangal, bruised

Spice Paste:

• 10 shallots
• 6 cloves garlic
• 4 cm turmeric
• 2 cm ginger
• 1 tablespoon roasted coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

Garnishes:

• 1 lime
• 100 grams fried shallots

Sambal (Spicy Sauce):

• 20 red bird’s eye chilies
• 1 clove garlic

Instructions

1. Prepare the Spice Paste:
   Blend the shallots, garlic, turmeric, ginger, roasted coriander seeds, and cumin seeds into a smooth paste.

2. Cook the Chicken:
   In a large pot, sauté the spice paste along with star anise, cardamom pods, lemongrass, and galangal until fragrant.
   Add the chicken pieces and cook until they change color.

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3. Simmer in Thin Coconut Milk:
   Pour in the thin coconut milk mixture. Season with salt and sugar to taste. Allow the chicken to simmer until fully cooked. Once the chicken is cooked, remove and set aside to cool slightly.

4. Fry the Chicken:
   Once cooled, deep fry the chicken pieces until golden brown. Set aside.

5. Prepare the Broth:
   Add the thick coconut milk to the remaining broth in the pot. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring continuously to prevent the coconut milk from curdling. Once it reaches a boil, turn off the heat.

6. Shred the Chicken:
   Shred the fried chicken into bite-sized pieces.

7. Make the Sambal:
   For the sambal, wash the chilies and garlic thoroughly. Fry them in the same oil used for frying the chicken until they soften. Blend with a bit of the soto broth until smooth, then fry the mixture again until fragrant.

8. Serve:
   To serve, place the shredded chicken in a bowl. Ladle the hot soto broth over the chicken. Garnish with lime wedges and fried shallots. Serve with the sambal on the side for added heat.

Tips:

• Ensure the coconut milk is stirred continuously when heating to avoid curdling.
• Adjust the seasoning according to taste, adding more salt or sugar as needed.
• Serve the soto with steamed rice for a complete meal.

Enjoy this delicious and comforting Soto Ayam Medan, a rich and flavorful Indonesian chicken soup that is perfect for any occasion!