Advertisement

Indonesian Fried Chicken

Featuring chicken legs poached in spice-scented coconut water and then deep-fried to a golden brown, this take on Indonesia’s fast food of choice comes from new cookbook Fire Islands.

May 20, 2019, updated May 20, 2019

Although now based in London, food writer Eleanor Ford lived in Indonesia as a child and then moved back with her young family many years later. Her second cookbook, Fire Islands: Recipes from Indonesia, features a collection of dishes described as “exotic yet achievable”, ranging from creamy coconut curries and spicy stir-fries to black rice steam cake and green coconut pancakes.

Indonesian Fried Chicken

Indonesian Fried Chicken is the fast food of choice. There are as many variants as there are islands in the archipelago, but to my mind this cult version from Yogyakarta is the ultimate. Chicken legs are poached in spice-scented coconut water, which both flavours and tenderises the meat. The final frying gives a crunchy golden crust.

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 chicken legs, skin on
700 ml (scant 3 cups) coconut water (1 large young coconut)
3 small red Asian shallots, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
3cm (1¼ inches) ginger, skin scrubbed, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons plain flour
Oil, for deep-frying

Method

Marinate the chicken in the coconut water, all the aromatics and salt for a couple of hours in the fridge.

Transfer everything to a pan. The chicken should be fully covered with liquid, so top up with water if needed.

Cover and bring to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and leave the pan covered for the chicken to cool slowly in the broth. After 50 minutes the meat should be cooked through and tender. Strain the boiling liquid and use for soup – the flavour is fantastic.

InDaily in your inbox. The best local news every workday at lunch time.
By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement andPrivacy Policy & Cookie Statement. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Dry the chicken legs well and keep in the fridge until you are ready to eat. Season the flour with salt and pepper and use to give the chicken legs a dusty coating.

Heat oil for deep-frying in a large pan or wok. When it reaches 170C (325F) or bubbles form around a spoon handle, add the chicken. Fry until golden brown.

Menu ideas

I like the Balinese pairing for fried chicken – a salad made from cucumber, thinly sliced raw Thai aubergine (eggplant) and lemon basil leaves. Squeeze over lime juice and you have the perfect fresh contrast to the crisp, oily meat.

From Fire Islands: Recipes from Indonesia, by Eleanor Ford, $49.99, published by Murdoch Books.

 

Local News Matters
Advertisement
Copyright © 2024 InDaily.
All rights reserved.