Ayam Bumbu Rujak was a staple BBQ or grilled chicken dish that was often made at my parents’ household back then.  The decision to recreate this dish was for the food photo’s purpose of Indonesian Food Festival 2009 which was hosted by Indonesian Student Group of Winnipeg (ISGWPG). This event took a place at Bell Tower Cafe, St. Paul’s College, the University of Manitoba.

It’s not that hard to make if you have all the ingredients in a place. The taste? It does the same taste as I recalled from my family’s. Serving suggestion, an accompaniment of nasi uduk, sambal and lalapan (raw vegetables).

Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak
Java Barbequed Chicken with Chili Coconut Sauce
recipe by Herti, modified and translated by me

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken (700 g), cut into 6 pieces
2 salam (Indonesian bay) leaves
5 kaffir lime leaves, teared
2 lemongrasses, bruised
400-500 ml thick coconut milk
2 limes for drizzling the chicken *I used calamansis, the only citrus I have in the fridge
oil for stir fry

Spices grind into a paste:
100 g red chili pepper (about 1/4 cup ground red chili or sambal ulek)
10 shallots (5 larger sized shallots)
4 cloves garlic
6 candlenuts
4 cm long galangal
2 cm long ginger
1 1/2 cm long turmeric
1/2 tsp roasted terasi (English: dried shrimp paste, Malay: belachan)
salt as desired
2 tsp coconut sugar (can be substituted for palm sugar)
2 tsp tamarind, dissolved in a small amount of water

Directions:
1. Rinse off with cold water and pat dry chicken. Drizzle fresh lime juice over chicken, let it sit for the next 20 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven at 350F. Meanwhile, in a skillet, at medium hight heat, add oil and stir fry spices paste, Indonesian bay leaves, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant.
3. Add chicken and stir until change colour.
4. Add coconut milk, bring to a boil and stir once a while.
5. Reduce the heat to low-medium and let cook until thicken and oily.
6. Bake chicken for 15 – 20 minutes and turn the oven knob into hi-broil. Broil until the chicken surface turn a bit darker or dry.

 

65 COMMENTS

  3. Pepy,Very nice photograph and the chicken leg quarter looks very appetizing.I always wonder about our original Indonesian recipes for chicken… why the whole chicken only weighs 700-800 grams. I suppose because that may be the weigh of our smallish free-range chickens which in North America simply don't exist. Perhaps, cornish hens would be comparable to those of our small free-range chickens. I end up having to double or triple the sauce or seasoning paste recipes. Do you?

  4. Deetha: dasarrrr!Tuty: yes! you are right. I ended up to double or triple the sauce for making a whole chicken here.Cornish hens is comparable to a whole free range chicken in Indonesia.

  6. Pepy,

    Very nice photograph and the chicken leg quarter looks very appetizing.

    I always wonder about our original Indonesian recipes for chicken… why the whole chicken only weighs 700-800 grams. I suppose because that may be the weigh of our smallish free-range chickens which in North America simply don’t exist. Perhaps, cornish hens would be comparable to those of our small free-range chickens.

    I end up having to double or triple the sauce or seasoning paste recipes. Do you?

  7. Deetha: dasarrrr!

    Tuty: yes! you are right. I ended up to double or triple the sauce for making a whole chicken here.

    Cornish hens is comparable to a whole free range chicken in Indonesia.

  13. Jadi laper liat hidangan ini :-)kebayang rasanya pasti nyammi. Fotonya selalu keren2, dah sering ngintip Foto2 di sini tapi nggak pernah ninggalin jejak he hee :-DGood luck jeng Pepy đŸ™‚

  15. Jadi laper liat hidangan ini :-)kebayang rasanya pasti nyammi. Fotonya selalu keren2, dah sering ngintip Foto2 di sini tapi nggak pernah ninggalin jejak he hee đŸ˜€

    Good luck jeng Pepy đŸ™‚

  16. Pepy, you can find kalamansi lime there? You're so lucky! Iv been looking for them high and low but failed.I love chicken cooked that way. Makan with nasi ulam or I think you guys call it nasi uduk?

  17. mbak….bener2 deh nih ayam aku doyan banget…agak pedes dikit…bener2 nikmat….hubby yo doyan…slllrrrppppp..tapi kok cuman sepotong tuh….paha doank hahaha..sing liyane wes amblas yah

  18. Pepy, you can find kalamansi lime there? You’re so lucky! Iv been looking for them high and low but failed.

    I love chicken cooked that way. Makan with nasi ulam or I think you guys call it nasi uduk?

  19. mbak….bener2 deh nih ayam aku doyan banget…agak pedes dikit…bener2 nikmat….hubby yo doyan…slllrrrppppp..tapi kok cuman sepotong tuh….paha doank hahaha..sing liyane wes amblas yah

  30. I have eaten this Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak in Hong Kong at an Indonesian restaurant. But I am back home, I could not find the similar taste, I would try your recipe. Thanks for sharing.

  31. I have eaten this Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak in Hong Kong at an Indonesian restaurant. But I am back home, I could not find the similar taste, I would try your recipe. Thanks for sharing.

  46. This is something new to me. This recipe is really going to keep me busy in the kitchen with all its glamor. I think this is another must for the weekend!

  47. This is something new to me. This recipe is really going to keep me busy in the kitchen with all its glamor. I think this is another must for the weekend!

  56. Great recipe. One question though: "Preheat the oven at 350C?" Adakah anda serius? My oven only goes to 250C and that's rarely ever needed in my kitchen. Barangkali this should have read 350° F = about 180°C?

  58. Great recipe. One question though: "Preheat the oven at 350C?" Adakah anda serius? My oven only goes to 250C and that's rarely ever needed in my kitchen.
    Barangkali this should have read 350° F = about 180°C?

  60. Really really like this recipe! Just tried it and it's just soooo good makes me feel closer to home (Indo) :)Thanks a lot for the recipe!!! đŸ™‚

  61. Really really like this recipe! Just tried it and it's just soooo good makes me feel closer to home (Indo)
    đŸ™‚

    Thanks a lot for the recipe!!! đŸ™‚

  63. Pepy, this looks so good! How long does the chicken usually boil in the coconut milk and spices before you put it in the oven?

    Thanks in advance! đŸ˜‰

    • I believe it’s about 30 mins or so depend on how big the chicken cuts. All you need to pay attention is when the liquid of the boiling process oily and thick that is the sign.

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