Ayam kecap (sweet soy chicken)
Ayam kecap: chicken simmered in sweet soy with garlic, shallot and tomato
Ayam kecap is everyday Indonesian home cooking, made from Jakarta to Surabaya for family dinners and lunchboxes: bite-size chicken pieces browned, then simmered in kecap manis, the thick palm-sugar soy sauce, with garlic, shallot, ginger and tomato until glossy and sticky. The mistake is adding the kecap manis too early on a high heat; its sugar burns before the chicken is cooked, so add it once the chicken is browned and turn the heat down. Chef's tip: use boneless thighs, which stay juicy and cook in the time the rice takes.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb boneless skinless chicken thighscut into 4 cm pieces
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 shallotssliced
- 4 garlic clovessliced
- ¾ in gingercut into matchsticks
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tomatoescut into wedges
- ½ cup water
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 spring onionscut into 3 cm lengths
- 1 red chilli (optional)sliced, for adults
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toss 1 ⅓ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs with 1 tbsp lime juice, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.
2 minStep 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or wide pan over a medium-high heat. Brown the chicken in one layer, turning, until golden on most sides. Push to one side.
6 minStep 3: Add 4 shallots, 4 garlic cloves and ¾ in ginger to the space and fry until soft and fragrant.
2 minStep 4: Turn the heat to medium. Stir in 4 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), 1 tbsp soy sauce and ½ cup water and simmer, stirring now and then, until the sauce is thick and sticky and the chicken is cooked through to 165°F, with clear juices.
8 minStep 5: Add 2 tomatoes, 2 spring onions and 1 red chilli if using and cook for 2 minutes, just until the tomato softens. Serve with rice.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 17 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ayam kecap (sweet soy chicken) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of lime juice?
- Lemon juice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of shallots?
- Half an onion per 2 shallots.
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