Spicy Indonesian Chicken Rica-Rica

Ayam Rica-Rica Recipe: A Spicy Indonesian Delight

Ingredients:

• 500 grams chicken (cut into pieces)
• 5 curly red chilies (cabe keriting)
• 10 large bird’s eye chilies (cabe rawit bandot, optional for extra heat)
• 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric (kunyit)
• 7 shallots (bawang merah)
• 4 cloves garlic (bawang putih)
• 6 candlenuts (kemiri)
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger (jahe)
• 3 bay leaves (daun salam)
• 2 stalks lemongrass (sereh), white parts only, bruised
• 3 kaffir lime leaves (daun jeruk), sliced
• 1 bunch basil leaves (daun kemangi)
• 2 stalks green onions (daun bawang), roughly chopped
• 1 lemon or lime, juiced
• Salt to taste
• Cooking oil
• Bouillon seasoning or chicken stock powder to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken:

   • Clean the chicken pieces thoroughly. For even cooking, you may cut larger pieces into smaller chunks. Rub the chicken with salt and lemon or lime juice. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.

2. Fry the Chicken:

   • Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces until they are halfway cooked, ensuring they remain tender. Avoid cooking them all the way through.

3. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • Using a mortar and pestle or a blender, grind the turmeric, shallots, garlic, red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, and candlenuts into a smooth paste.

4. Cook the Spice Paste:

   • In a large pan, heat some oil and sauté the ground spice paste along with bay leaves, lemongrass, ginger, and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant and the oil begins to separate from the paste.

5. Combine and Simmer:

   • Add the partially cooked chicken to the pan with the spice paste. Pour in enough water to cover the chicken. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer.

6. Season and Reduce:

   • Season the dish with salt and bouillon seasoning or chicken stock powder to taste. Continue simmering until the liquid has reduced and the sauce thickens.

7. Add Fresh Herbs:

   • Once the sauce has reduced significantly, add the green onions and basil leaves. Stir well and cook for a few more minutes until the basil is wilted and fragrant.

8. Adjust Flavor:

   • Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Ensure the chicken is tender and fully cooked.

9. Serve:

   • Transfer the Ayam Rica-Rica to a serving dish and serve hot with steamed rice.

Enjoy your homemade Ayam Rica-Rica, a fiery and aromatic Indonesian chicken dish that is sure to tantalize your taste buds!