Ayam penyet facts for kids
A plate of ayam penyet, "squeezed" fried chicken in sambal
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | East Java |
| Associated national cuisine | Indonesia |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | "Squeezed" or "smashed" fried chicken served with sambal |
Ayam penyet is a super tasty Indonesian dish. It's made with fried chicken that gets "smashed" or "pressed." This smashing makes the chicken extra soft and juicy. It's usually served with a super spicy chili paste called sambal. You'll also find fresh slices of cucumbers, fried tofu, and tempeh on the side. This dish is very popular, especially in East Java, Indonesia. The most famous version is called ayam penyet Suroboyo.
Contents
What is Ayam Penyet?
Ayam penyet means "smashed chicken" in the Javanese language. It's a famous Indonesian meal. The chicken is first fried until golden. Then, it's gently smashed using a mortar and pestle. This smashing helps the chicken soak up all the flavors. It also makes the meat very tender.
The Spicy Sambal
One of the best parts of ayam penyet is its spicy sambal. This chili paste is made from many ingredients. These include chilli, anchovies, tomatoes, shallots, and garlic. It also has shrimp paste, tamarind, and lime juice. All these ingredients are smashed together into a paste. This sambal is what gives the dish its famous spicy kick!
Ayam Penyet vs. Ayam Geprek
Ayam penyet is often compared to another popular Indonesian dish. This dish is called ayam geprek. Both are fried chicken dishes served with spicy sambal. However, there's a key difference.
Traditional Ayam Penyet
Ayam penyet uses traditional Indonesian fried chicken. This chicken is often half-cooked first. It's cooked in a special yellow spice paste called bumbu kuning. After that, it's deep fried in hot palm oil. This method gives the chicken a unique flavor and texture.
Modern Ayam Geprek
Ayam geprek is more like Western-style fried chicken. It's usually crispy fried chicken. This chicken is coated with a batter. In Indonesia, this is known as ayam goreng tepung. So, the main difference is how the chicken is prepared before it's smashed.
Where to Find Ayam Penyet
Today, ayam penyet is very popular. You can find it in many countries. It's common in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. Its popularity has grown a lot across Southeast Asia. Many restaurants and food chains now sell this delicious dish. They often offer other Indonesian foods too.
History
The idea for Ayam Penyet came from a restaurant called Ayam Bakar Wong Solo. It started as a new chicken dish on their menu. But it became super famous when people in Surabaya started selling it. They called it Ayam Penyet Surabaya. This is how it became a well-known dish.
