Ayam Panggang Bumbu Kuning (Indonesian Crispy Yellow Baked Chicken)

Savory, crispy, delicious twice-cooked chicken that is very juicy and tender in the inside yet, crispy on the outside. Plus, it’s low carb! This Indonesian style of crispy chicken is so common and so easy to find in typical Indonesian restaurant. As mentioned, the chicken is cooked twice. Usually it is simmered first with all the spices – it’s yellow in color – and then, fried. Instead of frying it, I am going to bake it. So hence, Indonesian crispy yellow baked chicken (Ayam panggang bumbu kuning).

Why it is called ayam kuning (or yellow chicken)? Mainly from the turmeric that’s being used. After the first process of cooking, the chicken will turn to yellow. Many vendors sell these yellow chickens in the traditional market or in the grocery stores in Indonesia. It makes it easier for people to just buy these yellow chickens and fry it themselves at home.

The yellow spice itself is like a ‘spice base’ for many other recipe variations like tahu goreng kuning (fried yellow tofu), nasi goreng bumbu kuning (fried rice with yellow spice) and so on. So, for practical reason, I also like to make a big batch of the yellow spice and store it in the freezer for later use.

Tip: For party, you can prepare the chickens ahead of time as the chickens (prior to baking) can be stored in the fridge for few days.

Ingredient:

• 2 Cornish chicken – cleaned and cut into 4 pieces each chicken
• 500 ml (2 cups) water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 stalk lemongrass – pounded
• 2 tablespoon olive oil

Yellow spice:

• 4 candlenuts
• 1 inch turmeric – peeled
• ½ inch ginger – peeled
• 1 medium-sized shallot – peeled
• 5 cloves garlic – peeled
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Direction:

• Put all ingredients of the yellow spice into a grinder/blender. Blend them until they become yellow paste.
• Rub the yellow paste all over the chicken and put them in a cooking pot. Pour water, add bay leaves and lemongrass.
• Put the pot under low heat or simmer. Cook it for about one hour or until the water has all gone or evaporated.
• Preheat the oven on 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Brush some oil on the baking sheet. Transfer the chicken onto a baking sheet.
• Brush some oil onto the chicken as well. If there are some leftover yellow spices, brush them on the chicken as well.
• Put the chicken onto the oven and let it bake for 1 hour or the chicken skin has turned brown.
• Let it sit for about 5 minutes prior to serving. Enjoy!