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Everybody loves fried chicken, and in Indonesian cuisine, Ayam Penyet or smashed fried chicken is a beloved traditional delight. Originating from East Java and so popular that it’s basically become a signature Indonesian dish, the Ayam Penyet has a richly piquant aroma and deep savoury taste, served with a good helping of spicy sambal, rice, and cooling veggies with fried tofu to complete the one-plate meal. Savoured at specialty restaurants, diners and households.
The name ‘Penyet’ actually comes from the traditional method of tenderising the fried chicken by smashing it with a pestle and mortar. There are also many Ayam Penyet variants. The traditional way fries the chicken without a batter, but just a coating of mashed herbs and spices. Modern versions would include rice flour and egg batter for a crispier munch.
Ready to cook? Let’s get to the recipe!
Preparing the Ingredients
The Herbs & Spices
Indonesian cooking relies on a host of aromatic herbs and flavoured spices. For the Ayam Penyet’s marinade, you need a combo of shallot, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, turmeric, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, candlenuts, kaffir lime leaves, and bay leaves, with a pinch of salt and sugar.
The Sambal
Sambal is the absolute must-have Indonesian chilli paste that has many variants for different foods. Ayam Penyet’s Sambal is a blend of fresh red chillies, tomato, shallots, garlic, Belacan shrimp paste, and lime juice, also with a pinch of salt and sugar to smoothen the taste.
The Batter
A simple batter of rice flour, corn starch, and egg to give your Ayam Penyet a yummy crunch.
How to make Ayam Penyet
Step 1: Make the Marinade
Turn your stove to low heat and toast the cumin, fennel, and coriander seeds. Then put them with all the other herbs and spices in a food processor and blend to a smooth paste. Or go traditional and mash them with a pestle and mortar.
Step 2: Cook the Marinade
Boil a pot of water, and toss in the kaffir lime leaves, bay leaves , and your marinade paste.
Step 3: Flavour the Chicken
Boil the marinade paste, then put the chicken Maryland with sugar and salt. Dial it down to medium or low heat and let it cook for 20 minutes. This allows the chicken to fully absorb the marinade’s marvellous flavour. Remove the chicken after the simmer, and let it cool. But be sure to keep the stock.
Step 4: Make the Batter
Blend the batter ingredients together with about 250ml of the stock you just cooked. This will give your fried tofu that extra savoury zest.
Step 5: Fry the Tofu
Coat the tofu triangles with the batter and deep-fry them in cooking oil until golden.
Step 6: Fry the Chicken
Do the same for your marinated chicken. Be sure to turn it to ensure both sides are equally fried and get that crispy golden sheen. Then remove and set aside. To add some crunchy batter bites, spoon and sprinkle the remaining batter into the frying oil as well. Strain the fried batter bits onto a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
Step 7: Pan Fry the Sambal Starters
Heat up your frying pan with a bit of oil and fry the chillies, shallots, garlic and tomatoes for about a minute.
Step 8: Add the Toasted Belacan Shrimp Paste
You can actually get toasted Belacan shrimp paste from your Asian grocery. Add a finger of it to the pan fry and let the heat break it down. Just a minute or two will do. Then remove the cooked ingredients and blend them into a paste with your food processor.
Step 9: Cook the Sambal
Pan fry the blended paste with salt and sugar, and cook until it thickens into a gravy-like texture. Take in the rich, zesty, savoury aroma, then remove the cooked Sambal paste from the heat, and squeeze a dash of lime juice on it.
Step 10: Penyet the chicken
Smash the fried chicken with a pestle and mortar. Then assemble your Ayam Penyet plate with the Sambal, fried tofu, cooked rice, cabbage, snake beans and fresh tomato wedges. Bon appetite!
Check out our Ayam Penyet recipe page for the exact portions of ingredients!
More Indonesian Yummies
Indonesian cuisine is a world of bold, sensational flavours that excite our tastebuds, with a plethora of dishes for your home-cook pleasure! Check out the essential Indonesian ingredients. Savour some of our favourite Indonesian delicacies and traditional drinks. And, enjoy even more gastronomic Indonesian specials in our recipes collection!
