Ayam Goreng Penyet (Indonesian Smashed Fried Chicken)




Please don't roll your eyes, the truth is not like what it sounds. You don't need to smash the chicken on the wall to prepare the dish


Ingredients:
  • 6 large chicken legs or breas, deboned
  • 2 stalks lemon grass, crushed
  • 2 bay leaves (salam leaves)
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds (ketumbar)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin (jintan manis)
  • 2 tbsp thick coconut milk
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil

Ingredients to grind:
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 red chilli, seeded
  • 2 cm knob tumeric
  • 120g lengkuas, peeled and sliced
  • 4 slices ginger
  • 3 candlenuts (bush keras)

Instructions:
  1. Fry coriander seeds over slow fire till fragrant then grind coarsely.
  2. Wash chicken and drain well. Prick chicken all over with a fork.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine ground spices with ground cumin, coriander, salt, sugar, coconut milk and crushed serai. Add chicken and mix thoroughly. Leave to marinade for 30 minutes.
  4. Grease base of cooking pot with some cooking oil. Arrange chicken in pot, add crushed bay leaves. Cover pot and cook over moderate heat for 8 minutes. Turn chicken over, cover pot and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes or until almost dry. Remove chicken and drain off excess liquid.
  5. Grill or roast chicken on high heat, 250 deg Celcius until golden brown on both sides.