4.7 from 150 votes
The Best Indonesian Sweet Soy Chicken - Ayam Kecap
This recipe for Ayam Kecap showcases Indonesian sweet soy chicken with marinated chicken pieces cooked using either deep-frying or steam-frying methods. The chicken is stewed later in a sauce made from sweet soy sauce, onions, garlic, and chilies, creating a lightly sweet, spicy, and aromatic dish traditional to Indonesian cuisine.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Additional Time
3 mins
Total Time
48 mins
Servings:
6
Calories:
272 kcal
Course:
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine:
Indonesian
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ pounds chicken Boneless or with bones. Cut in pieces
- 3 tablespoons tamarind juice
- 1 teaspoon salt for the marinade
- 2 onion medium size, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic finely sliced
- 2 red chili or green chili, sliced diagonally
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper coarse
- 1/3 cup Sweet soy sauce see the note, Indonesian
- cooking oil
Instructions
- Marinade the chicken with tamarind juice and salt. Pierce the meat by using a skewer or fork. Set aside and leave it to rest for about half an hour.
- When you're ready to cook, heat the oil on a wok or frying pan. And start deep-frying or steam-frying the chicken. For the latter one, you heat two tablespoons of oil on a frying pan and fry the chicken pieces until they turn opaque. Then turn the heat down and put the lid on the pan to steam-cook the poultry.
- If you use boneless chicken, it will normally take about 12-15 minutes to deep-fry. If you use chicken with bone, it may take slightly longer. Around 20-25 minutes. Set aside.
- Then, fry the onions in a pan with 4-5 tablespoons of cooking oil until it's light golden in colour. Add in the sliced garlic and chillies. Continue to fry for about 3 minutes before you put the sweet soy sauce, black pepper and salt in.
- Cook further about 3-5 minutes until you see the sauce bubbling. Lastly, add in the fried chicken. Stir until all the meat coated with soy sauce. Let it cook and simmer for about 3 minutes before you turn the heat off.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Prepare the chicken first and start frying it before making the sauce to save time, allowing both to finish simultaneously.
- If Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce) is unavailable, mix ¼ cup dark soy sauce with 3 tablespoons honey or dark brown sugar to replicate its flavor.
- Cooking times vary: boneless chicken takes about 12-15 minutes frying, bone-in takes 20-25 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
272kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
18g
(6%)
Protein
18g
(36%)
Fat
14g
(22%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
(18%)
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Trans Fat
0.1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
67mg
(22%)
Sodium
686mg
(29%)
Potassium
280mg
(6%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
13g
(26%)
Vitamin A
270IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
27mg
(30%)
Calcium
24mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 272
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 272kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 67mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 686mg | 29% |
| Potassium | 280mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 270IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 27mg | 30% |
| Calcium | 24mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.