Chicken in Spicy Shrimp Paste Coconut Sauce
- Cook time
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4 servings
Tender chicken cooked in a rich blend of spicy chilies, aromatic spices, and savory shrimp paste. Simmered in creamy coconut milk until the flavors are perfectly absorbed, creating a delicious combination of spicy, savory, rich, and aromatic flavors. Best served warm with steamed white rice for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken, cut into pieces
- 400 ml coconut milk
- 8 red chilies
- 5 bird’s eye chilies
- 6 shallots
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 candlenuts
- 1-inch piece turmeric
- 1-inch piece ginger
- 1 sachet / approximately 10 g shrimp paste
- 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
- 2 Indonesian bay leaves
- 2 kaffir lime leaves
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 tbsp palm sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp tamarind water
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 100 ml water
How to make it
- Prepare the chicken Clean the chicken and drain well. Season with a little salt and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Toast the shrimp paste Lightly toast or grill the shrimp paste until fragrant. Set aside.
- Blend the spices Blend the red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, shallots, garlic, candlenuts, turmeric, ginger, and toasted shrimp paste until smooth.
- Sauté the spice paste Heat the cooking oil. Sauté the blended spices together with the lemongrass, Indonesian bay leaves, and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant and fully cooked.
- Add the chicken Add the chicken and stir until evenly coated with the spices and the chicken changes color.
- Add water and coconut milk Pour in the water and cook until the chicken begins to soften. Gradually add the coconut milk while stirring gently to prevent it from separating.
- Season the dish Add palm sugar, salt, pepper, tomato, and tamarind water. Stir well and adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Cook until done Simmer over low heat until the chicken is tender, the spices are well absorbed, and the coconut sauce becomes rich and slightly thickened.
- Serve Remove from heat and serve warm with steamed white rice.
