Ayam smoor or Indonesian braised chicken. Delicious stewed chicken in a delicious sauce based on soy sauce and spices. Easy to make, but truly fantastic comfort food with an exotic touch!
Table of Contents
Why this Recipe Works
As the name suggests, this recipe originates from Indonesian cuisine, specifically from Java. “ayam” means chicken, and “smoor” refers to the stewing or braising process.
Slowly simmering the chicken in the sauce for a while results in tender Indonesian braised chicken in a fantastic sauce.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken thighs: for juicy, tender chicken that marinates wonderfully.
- Marinade: consisting of ketjap manis (sweet soy sauce), savory soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic.
- Spices: a warm blend of nutmeg, ground coriander, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf.
Traditionally, ayam smoor is served with white rice, which I personally love. However, you can vary this if you’d like. Try a different type of rice, or make nasi goreng to accompany it. There are also plenty of delicious side dishes to serve with this meal! Here are a few options:
How to Serve Ayam Smoor
- White rice or pandan rice
- Sajoer beans
- Atjar (pickles)
- Seroendeng
- Kroepoek
- Sambal for an extra kick
Easy Ayam Smoor Recipe
As you know, this recipe uses simple ingredients that give the dish a lot of flavor. I use chicken thighs, ketjap, soy sauce and spices. The secret lies in the braising process. If you let it stew for at least 40 minutes, the chicken will be delicious and tender, and the sauce will be flavorful. The rest of the preparation doesn’t take long, making this Indonesian braised chicken the perfect weeknight meal!
Indonesian Braised Chicken
As you can tell, I highly recommend this dish if you love Indonesian cuisine as much as I do. The combination of sweet soy sauce, spices, and tender chicken is simply divine! Want more inspiration from Indonesian cuisine? Take a look at this collection of Asian recipes.
FAQ
How long do I Braise the Chicken?
About 40 minutes, this recipe is super flavorful and ready within an hour!
What do I Serve with the Ayam Smoor?
I like to serve it with some rice, green beans or an Asian cucumber salad.
Can I freezee the Braised Chicken?
Yes, absolutely! Just let it thaw and heat gently before serving.
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Ingredients
- 600 gram chicken thighs (cut into pieces)
- 2 chopped onions
- 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 50 ml sweet soy sauce
- 2 tbsp savory soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 300 ml water
- sunflower oil
Equipment
- Large frying pan
INSTRUCTIONS (how to make this recipe):
- Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs and fry until golden brown on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Add the onion and garlic to the same pan. Fry until translucent.
- Then, add the soy sauce, sugar, nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves. Stir well.
- Return the chicken thighs to the pan and add water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer gently for about 40 minutes with the lid on the pan until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the lid for the last 10 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Stir occasionally.
- Remove the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Serve the ajam smoor with cooked rice, sautéed beans, and atjar. Enjoy your meal!
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