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Ayam Penyet — Smashed Fried Chicken & Sambal

Crispy fried chicken smashed flat with a spicy sambal paste, served with steamed rice, fried tempeh, crispy tofu, and cool cucumber slices. A complete Indonesian dinner that feels fancy but takes 25 minutes.

Total time
25 min
Servings
2
Calories
680
Protein
42g
Ayam Penyet — Smashed Fried Chicken & Sambal
satisfyingboldindonesianchickencrispytenderjuicyweeknight

Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Pound chicken thighs flat between two sheets of plastic wrap, about 1/2-inch thick. Pat dry with paper towels.

  2. Step 2

    Heat 1/4 cup neutral oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high until it shimmers, about 2 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Working in batches, sear chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.

  4. Step 4

    Pound chilies, garlic, shallots, and a pinch of salt in a mortar until a rough paste forms. Stir in lime juice.

  5. Step 5

    Smash each piece of warm chicken hard with the flat of a spoon, coating it generously with sambal paste.

  6. Step 6

    Arrange rice, chicken, tempeh, tofu, and cucumber on a plate. Drizzle any pan sambal over the chicken and serve hot.

Tools you’ll need

  • 12-inch skillet
  • plastic wrap
  • paper towels
  • mortar and pestle
  • spoon
  • plate

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