Chicken Rendang

Though rendang is sometimes described as being like a curry, and the name is sometimes applied to curried meat dishes in Malaysia, authentic rendang is nothing like a curry. In Malay classical literature, rendang is mentioned in Hikayat Amir Hamzah as early as the 1550s.

Rendang is made from beef (or occasionally beef liver, chicken, mutton, water buffalo, duck, or vegetables like jackfruit or cassava) slowly cooked in coconut milk, spices and sometimes kerisik (toasted coconut paste) for several hours until almost all the liquid is gone, allowing the meat to absorb the spicy condiments.

The cooking process changes from boiling to frying as the liquid evaporates. The slow cooking process allows the meat to absorb all the spices and to become tender. The spices may include ginger, galangal, turmeric leaf, lemon grass and chillies. Chicken or duck rendang also contains tamarind and is usually not cooked for as long as beef rendang.

Kerisik
Kerisik is an important ingredient when cooking rendang. Coconut is grated, toasted, then ground to a paste.
It is sometimes referred to as coconut butter. It can be made at home or bought ready made.

However, pre-made kerisik can develop a unpleasant smell. Fresh kerisik can be easily made from fresh coconut which is grated and fried, then ground in a mortar and pestle. Dried grated coconut can also be used, however the resulting paste is not as fragrant.

Ingredient A
1.5 kg drumsticks, cut to pieces  |  250ml thick coconut milk  |  250ml water
3 stalks lemon grass (crushed)  |  6 pandan leaves (knotted)
3 pieces kaffir lime leaf (shredded)  |  1 piece turmeric leaf (shredded)
1 grated coconut (tosted)

Ingredient B (blended)
100g shallots  |  50g cloves garlic  |  6 candlenuts  |  20g fresh turmeric  |  40g fresh galangal
50g fresh ginger  |  3 stalks lemon grass

Ingredient C
80g chili boh  |  1 teaspoon cumin powder  |  1 teaspoon coriander powder  |
1 teaspoon fennel powder

Seasoning
80g gula Melaka  |  1/2 tablespoon salt


Method
blend all spice ingredient B with some water.

heat up 5 tablespoons oil to stir-fry blended ingredient B, ingredient C and lemon grass for 10 minutes.

add in chicken stir-fry for 5 minutes, add in water, coconut milk, pandan leaves and all the seasoning,
bring to boil over high heat, reduce to lowest once boil and simmer for 40 minutes.

lastly add in toasted grated coconut, shredded turmeric and kaffir lime leaves. mix well, dish out and serve with nasi lemak.