Rica-Rica Ayam Recipe
Ingredients:
- 250 grams chicken, cut into pieces
- 2 shallots
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 candlenuts
- Red chili peppers and bird’s eye chilies, to taste
- Ginger, galangal, and lemongrass
- Turmeric
- Lime leaves and bay leaves
- Palm sugar
- Salt
- Soy sauce
- Seasoning powder
- Black pepper
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Spice Paste:
Begin by blending the shallots, garlic, candlenuts, red chili peppers, bird’s eye chilies, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, and turmeric into a smooth paste. You can use a food processor or mortar and pestle to achieve a fine texture. -
Sauté the Spice Paste:
Heat a generous amount of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the blended spice paste and sauté it until fragrant, which should take about 3-5 minutes. -
Cook the Chicken:
Add the chicken pieces to the pan, stirring to coat them thoroughly with the spice paste. Cook for a few minutes until the chicken begins to brown slightly. -
Season the Dish:
Season the chicken with palm sugar, salt, soy sauce, seasoning powder, and black pepper. Stir well to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed. -
Simmer:
Add the lime leaves and bay leaves to the pan. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the chicken simmer until tender and the flavors are well absorbed, about 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally and adjust seasoning to taste. -
Adjust Spice Levels:
For those who enjoy a spicier dish, you can add extra bird’s eye chilies according to your taste. -
Serve:
Once the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened to your liking, remove from heat. Serve the Rica-Rica Ayam hot, ideally with steamed rice.
Tip: Using kampong chicken (free-range chicken) will give the dish a richer and more authentic flavor. Enjoy your aromatic and flavorful Rica-Rica Ayam!
