Ayam Rica-Rica: Manado's Hot and Spicy Chiken

Ayam Rica-Rica is a dish originated from Manado, in North Sulawesi Province. The main ingredient is of course Ayam (that means chicken in Bahasa Indonesia). The other main ingredient mentioned in its name is Rica (means spicy or chili in local language of Manado). There's no tomato involved in that bright red sauce...

Although only chili gets the honor of being in the title, almost every kind of spices and herbs in the kitchen also goes to the pan. The rich flavor wouldn't lie, when you went full scale on the long list of spices. A satisfying meal is complete with only a bowl of rice, and a (few) glass of water to overcome the hot and spicy sensation.

Cooking the dish...

As always, traditional recipes may vary from door-to-door. But here's my favorite recipe of Ayam Rica-Rica.

Ingredients:

• Whole chicken, chopped into 16 chunk.
• 10 red chili (may add accordingly)
• 10 Thai chili / rawit merah  (may add at your own risk...)
• 10 shallots
• 7 cloves of garlic
• 4 cm of ginger
• 2 stalk of lemongrass, bruised
• 5 kaffir lime leaves
• 2  pandan leaves
• 2 strands of kemangi leaves (basil would do)
• 2 tbsp of lemon / lime juice
• 2 tbsp of oil
• 500 mL of coconut water (plain water would do)
• 1 tbsp of sugar
• salt

Directions:

• Grind chili, shallot, garlic, and ginger into a paste. 
• Heat oil in a pan, sauté the spices paste with some sugar. Add the lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves.
• Add the chicken, stir well. Wait a little bit before pouring the coconut water and adding pandan leaves.
• Add lemon / lime juice and salt (another method suggest marinating the chicken in lemon / lime juice and salt in advance)
• Lower the heat and put a lid on the pan. Check on the water, until the chicken is done. Add kemangi leaves just before turning off the fire. (Alternatively, use a slow pressure cooker to make the chicken bones tender) 

Where it comes from...

Map of Indonesia, that's North Sulawesi Province highlighted in red.

Manado refers to an ethnic group originated from North Sulawesi Province. Manado people also refers themselves as Kawanua or Minahasa people. Manado is also the name of the capital city of North Sulawesi Province.

But don't worry, because we don't need to go to North Sulawesi for a taste of Ayam Rica-Rica. Plenty of restaurant in Jakarta offers special cuisine from Manado. Most dishes from Manado has spicy and fresh sour taste.