Indonesian Barbecued Chicken

Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak
whoops, the jeruk limo is still half frozen there in pic 

Indonesian Grilled Chicken ~ Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak Kombinasi. (Grilled chicken = ayam bakar)
There’re actually many varieties of grilled chicken in Indonesia, which I’m not even sure if I know all of them. There’s Balinese Grilled Chicken, Ayam Bakar Padang, Ayam Bakar Rica, Ayam Bakar Taliwang, Ayam Bakar Kalasan, Ayam Bakar Kecap… I think there’s a whole lot more.

However, this particular recipe is based on  ”Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak” with a slight modification. With a drizzle of sweet soy sauce (our soy sauce is much thicker & sweeter than any others) and a twist of “jeruk limo” or lime, makes all the difference. It’s a recipe from grandma. My mother cooks this so often since we were little, still a favorite menu today everytime my sis & I come home to Indonesia.

INDONESIAN BARBECUED CHICKEN
(Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak ala Ibuku)

Ingredients:
* 8 pcs of chicken thighs
  (I like using thighs as they’re more succulent for bbq)
* 6 pcs of shallots
* 6 pcs of garlic cloves
* 7 pcs of candlenuts
* 4 pcs red chili peppers
* 1 cm fresh turmeric
* 2 cm fresh galangal or blue ginger
* 2 tbs paprika powder (to give a reddish color)
~  processed all into a smooth paste

* 2 pcs of bay leaves
* 4 pcs of kaffir lime leaves
* pinch of shrimp paste (optional)
* 1 cup of thick coconut milk
* 3 stalks of fresh Lemongrass – bruised
* Tamarind 2-3 pcs (asam jawa bisa pakai 2-3 mata)
* 2 pcs of indonesian lime or jeruk limo
* 2-3 tbs of Indonesian soy sauce

Directions:
1.) Heat the pan & sauteed all ground spices, add chicken pieces
     Cook until they change color slightly.
     Add salt, pepper, sugar, shrimp paste
2.) Add 2 cups water, lemongrass, bayleaves, tamarind, coconut milk
     Cover and cook until the water becomes thick. 
     Check chicken tenderness, add more water if necessary
3.) Add sweet soy sauce. Just a few spoons or else it’s going to
     taste like satay. Add kaffir lime leaves
4.) Let it cook for a while until the chicken becomes tender
5.) Set aside chicken – while keep cooking the sauce till thickens. 
     Squeeze a few drops of lime
6.) Grill the chicken over medium heat. Not too long so it stays
     juicy & succulent just to get a nice ‘burnt’ edges
7.) Serve with drizzle the sauce on top,
     sprinkle of bawang goreng or fried shallots.

Tambahan dari Mia adikku, katanya makannya pake sambel bajak…  ssshhhh-haaaahhhh!

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