← Nouns Cooking · Indonesian & Filipino

Ingredients

• 1 kg bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks
• 6 Shallot, peeled
• 4 cloves Garlic
• 3 cm piece fresh turmeric (or 1 tsp ground), peeled
• 2 cm piece Ginger, sliced
• 3 candlenuts (or macadamias)
• 1 tsp Ground coriander
• ½ tsp White pepper
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 2 Lemongrass, bruised and knotted
• 4 Makrut (kaffir) lime leaves
• 3 cm piece Galangal, sliced and bruised
• 2 l Water
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 150 g Rice vermicelli
• 150 g Bean sprouts
• 100 g Cabbage, finely shredded
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved
• 1 handful celery leaves or spring onion, chopped
• 3 tbsp Crispy fried shallots
• 1 Lime, cut into wedges
• sambal, to serve

Method

1. Blend the shallots, garlic, turmeric, ginger, candlenuts, coriander and white pepper with a splash of water into a smooth yellow paste.
2. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and fry the paste for 5–6 min, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker. Add the lemongrass, lime leaves and galangal and fry for 1 minute more.
3. Add the chicken and turn it in the paste for 2 min. Pour in the water, add the salt and sugar and bring to the boil, skimming off any foam.
4. Lower the heat and simmer gently, partly covered, for 40 min until the chicken is very tender and cooked through (75°C / 165°F).
5. Lift out the chicken, shred the meat and discard the skin and bones. Taste the broth and adjust the salt; keep it hot.
6. Soak the vermicelli in just-boiled water for 5 min until soft, then drain. Pour boiling water over the bean sprouts and drain.
7. Divide the noodles, sprouts, cabbage, chicken and egg between bowls and ladle over the steaming broth. Top with celery leaves and fried shallots and serve with lime and sambal.

Tips

• Fresh turmeric stains everything; wear gloves and use a board you do not mind turning yellow.
• Many Indonesians add a few potato crisps or a perkedel (potato fritter) on top for crunch.

Sources

Written in our own words after cross-checking these recipes:

SBS Food Marion's Kitchen Wok & Skillet