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Opor Ayam (Coconut Chicken Stew)

Name: Opor Ayam (Coconut Chicken Stew)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Indonesian (Javanese)
Ingredients: 1 kg chicken Chicken pieces; 100 g Shallots (≈ 8 pieces); 30 g Garlic (≈ 4 cloves); 20 g Toasted candlenuts (≈ 4 nuts); 20 g Ginger (≈ 2 cm); 10 g Turmeric (≈ 1 cm); 1 sdt Ground coriander; 0.5 sdt White pepper; 1 batang Lemongrass (bruised); 2 lembar Bay leaves; 3 lembar Kaffir lime leaves; 2 cm Galangal; 500 ml Thin coconut milk; 500 ml Thick coconut milk; 7.5 g Salt (≈ 1.5 tsp); 4 g Sugar (≈ 1 tsp)

Indonesian Eid celebration chicken stew. Canonical Sajian Sedap recipe.

Servings

Total Time

45-60 min

Want to scale this recipe?

Use the Indonesian Spice Calculator — enter the amount of meat/chicken/chili you need and all spices auto-scale proportionally.

Ingredients

Main Ingredient

▸1 kg chicken Chicken pieces

Spice Paste

▸100 g Shallots (≈ 8 pieces)
▸30 g Garlic (≈ 4 cloves)
▸20 g Toasted candlenuts (≈ 4 nuts)
▸20 g Ginger (≈ 2 cm)
▸10 g Turmeric (≈ 1 cm)
▸1 sdt Ground coriander
▸0.5 sdt White pepper

Whole Spices & Aromatics

▸1 batang Lemongrass (bruised)
▸2 lembar Bay leaves
▸3 lembar Kaffir lime leaves
▸2 cm Galangal

Liquids

▸500 ml Thin coconut milk
▸500 ml Thick coconut milk

Seasoning & Garnishes

▸7.5 g Salt (≈ 1.5 tsp)
▸4 g Sugar (≈ 1 tsp)

Instructions

1
Blend the spice paste (shallots, garlic, candlenuts, coriander, ginger, turmeric) until smooth.
2
Sauté the paste with lemongrass, salam leaves, and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant (5-7 minutes).
3
Add chicken pieces and stir until they change color.
4
Pour in the thinner coconut milk first. Cook over medium heat, stirring gently, until chicken is tender (25-30 minutes).
5
Add the thick coconut milk and palm sugar. Stir continuously to prevent the coconut milk from splitting; cook 10-15 minutes more.
6
Adjust salt. Serve with ketupat, lontong, or steamed rice, topped with crispy fried shallots.

Cooking Tips

●Sauté ground spice paste + whole spices until fragrant before adding chicken — key for aroma.
●Add thin coconut milk first, cook until chicken is tender. Add thick coconut milk in last 10 minutes.
●Stir gently when coconut milk is in to prevent breaking. Medium heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to cook Opor Ayam (Coconut Chicken Stew)?▾

45-60 min total (PT20M prep + PT45M cook). For the most authentic result, don't rush — especially the slow reduction stages.

How many servings does this recipe yield?▾

6 servings from 1 kg chicken of main ingredient. For larger gatherings, use the spice scaling calculator — all spices scale proportionally.

Where does this recipe come from? Is it authentic?▾

Base recipe sourced from Sajian Sedap, NCC. All references are publicly available and widely cited among Indonesian home cooks.

Can I substitute ingredients I can't find?▾

Core spices (chilies, shallots, herbs) define the flavor identity and shouldn't be substituted. Garnishes and add-ons can be adjusted. See cooking tips below for guidance.