Grilled Chicken Wrapped Rice (Nasi Bakar Ayam)
Ingredients:
- 1 plate of cooked rice
- 1/4 chicken fillet, diced and cleaned
- Cleaned banana leaves
- Toothpicks or skewers to secure the leaves
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cm lemongrass, bruised
- 1 bunch of basil leaves (optional)
- 1 large red chili, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp sweet soy sauce
- Cooking oil
- 100 ml water
Spice Paste:
- 1 large red chili
- 3 small chilies
- 2 shallots
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 candlenut
- 1 cm turmeric
- 1/2 cm ginger
- 1/4 tomato
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 chicken bouillon cube (or seasoning of choice)
- Ground pepper, to taste
Instructions:
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Prepare the Spice Paste: Heat some oil in a pan and sauté the spice paste ingredients until fragrant. Add the bay leaf and lemongrass, stir-frying until aromatic.
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Cook the Chicken: Add the diced chicken, sweet soy sauce, and water. Cook until the liquid reduces and the chicken is cooked through. Adjust seasoning to taste. Stir in the sliced red chili and basil leaves briefly, then turn off the heat.
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Assemble the Wrapped Rice: Lay out banana leaves and place a portion of rice on each leaf. Spoon some of the chicken mixture onto the rice. Optionally, mix the rice with the chicken before wrapping for enhanced flavor absorption.
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Wrap and Grill: Fold the banana leaves over the rice and chicken, securing them with toothpicks or skewers. Grill the wrapped rice parcels either on a grill or in a non-stick pan until the leaves char slightly and the flavors meld together.
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Serve: Unwrap the parcels carefully and serve the grilled chicken wrapped rice while still warm. Enjoy the unique blend of flavors and textures!
Note: Avoid over-grilling to prevent the banana leaves from drying out excessively and sticking to the rice. This dish is best enjoyed fresh off the grill, maintaining its delicious, smoky essence.
This recipe for Grilled Chicken Wrapped Rice (Nasi Bakar Ayam) combines the aromatic Indonesian flavors of spiced chicken and fragrant rice, enveloped in banana leaves and grilled to perfection. Perfect for an adventurous meal that captures the essence of Southeast Asian cuisine!
