Opor Ayam is a delicious Indonesian chicken dish cooked in a fragrant coconut milk-based broth. It’s often served during festive occasions and celebrations. Here’s a recipe for Opor Ayam:
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs (approximately 1 kg) chicken pieces (you can use a whole chicken cut into parts or specific cuts like drumsticks and thighs)
- 2 cans of coconut milk (about 800 ml total)
- 2 lemongrass stalks, bruised
- 4 kaffir lime leaves
- 2 turmeric leaves (optional)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- Salt, to taste
- Sugar, to taste
For the spice paste (rempah):
- 4 shallots
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 candlenuts (or macadamia nuts or cashews as a substitute)
- 1 inch ginger
- 1 inch galangal
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel powder
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 2-3 red chili peppers (adjust based on your spice preference)
Instructions:
- Prepare the spice paste (rempah): Blend all the spice paste ingredients in a food processor or mortar and pestle until you get a smooth paste.
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the spice paste and cook until fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the chicken pieces to the pot and stir to coat them with the spice paste. Cook until the chicken changes color on all sides.
- Pour in the coconut milk and add the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and turmeric leaves. Stir well.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid and let the Opor Ayam simmer gently. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Allow the chicken to cook in the coconut milk until it’s tender and fully cooked, about 30-45 minutes. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken pieces.
- As the Opor Ayam cooks, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and a bit of sugar to balance the flavors.
- Once the chicken is tender and the sauce has thickened, continue cooking until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Remove the lemongrass stalks and kaffir lime leaves before serving.
- Serve the Opor Ayam with steamed rice, and you can also accompany it with some traditional Indonesian side dishes like fried shallots, krupuk (shrimp crackers), and sambal (chili paste) for extra flavor.
Enjoy your homemade Opor Ayam, a flavorful and comforting Indonesian dish!
