Smashed Fried Chicken

(Ayam Penyet)

Ayam Penyet is a fried chicken, lightly smashed using a pestle in a mortar laced with sambal. It is one of the popular foods in Indonesia, especially in East of Java.  It was introduced by local footstall (warung) in the street, then finally it’s getting more popular and now it's become one of menu in Indonesian restaurants. The most well-known Ayam Penyet in Surabaya is Ayam Penyet Peneleh.

Category: Poultry (Chicken)

Difficulty: Medium

Preparing time: 45 minutes

Servings for 4 people

Ingredients

- 1 whole Chicken, cut into 4 or 8 pieces (as desired)

- 300 ml of coconut milk

- 200 ml of water

- 1 Salaam leafs (or you can substitute with Bay leaf)

- 2 stalk of fresh Lemongrass (Sereh/Serai), bruised

- Lime juice from 1 fresh lime

Spice Paste

- 4 cloves of garlic

- 2 Candlenuts

- 1 teaspoon coriander

- 2 teaspoon salt

For Sambal:

- 5 red chillies

- 4 bird's eyes chillies

- 3 shallots

- 1 cloves of garlic

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 1 teaspoon palm sugar

Directions

1. Grind or blend the spice paste.

2. Boil the Chicken with the spice paste, coconut milk, Salaam leafs, Lemongrass and water. Cook until it's tender and spice is absorbed.

3. When the chicken already cooks, leave it cold for a moment.

4. Heat the oil in non-stick frying pan, fry the chicken until it's brown and crispy. Set aside and serve.

5. Prepare the Sambal by grinding roughly all the ingredients. Then sauté with small amount of oil until it's fragrant for couple of minutes. When it's ready sprinkle with lime juice and then serve.