Ayam geprek facts for kids
|
|
| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | Yogyakarta |
| Associated national cuisine | Indonesia |
| Created by | Ruminah from Yogyakarta |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | fried chicken served with sambal |
Ayam geprek is a super popular Indonesian dish. It's made from crispy fried chicken that's been smashed and mixed with a very hot and spicy chili paste called sambal. You can find ayam geprek all over Indonesia and in nearby countries too. But it first came from a city called Yogyakarta on the island of Java.
The word geprek comes from the Javanese language. It means "crushed" or "smashed". So, ayam geprek literally means "crushed chicken". It's a bit like another traditional East Javanese dish called ayam penyet. Both dishes use fried chicken that's smashed and mixed with spicy sambal.
The main difference is how the chicken is prepared. Ayam penyet uses traditional Javanese fried chicken. This chicken is partly cooked in a yellow spice paste, then deep-fried. Ayam geprek, however, is more like Western-style fried chicken. It's crispy chicken coated in a special batter. In Indonesia, this is often called ayam goreng tepung, which means "battered fried chicken".
Contents
How Ayam Geprek Became Popular
Ayam geprek became very popular across Indonesia around 2017. Many new restaurants selling it opened in most Indonesian cities. People believe it started in Yogyakarta, thanks to a woman named Mrs. Ruminah, or "Bu Rum".
The Story of Bu Rum
In 2003, Bu Rum had a small food stall. One day, a customer asked her to smash her crispy battered fried chicken. They also wanted her to top it with her spicy sambal chili paste. This new way of serving the chicken quickly became a hit. Soon, many other restaurants started making their own versions of this smashed, spicy, crispy fried chicken.
Other Ideas About Its Origin
Some people say that a local fast food chain called Quick Chicken helped make ayam geprek popular. In 2013, they launched a dish called "American Penyet". The founder of Quick Chicken, Bedi Zubaedi, said this dish was very similar to ayam geprek. It was a mix of Western-style fried chicken served in the Indonesian ayam penyet way, with a special sambal bajak.
Different Ways to Enjoy Ayam Geprek
Ayam geprek is usually served with sambal chili paste. But today, you can find many new versions. Some places add mozzarella cheese on top. Others serve it with kol goreng, which is fried cabbage.
Commercial Success
- Geprek Bensu is a well-known fast food chain. It focuses on ayam geprek and has restaurants in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
