Ilustrasi opor ayam lezat (Gambar dihasilkan oleh AI dari freepik.com)
Brilio.net - Opor ayam is one of Indonesia's signature dishes that is identical to the savory coconut milk sauce and spices that are perfectly absorbed into the chicken meat. This dish is often served at special moments such as Eid, thanksgiving, or family events. However, although delicious, many people think that cooking opor ayam is complicated because it requires a lot of spices and the right cooking technique so that the sauce does not curdle.
The good news is, chicken opor can be cooked with a magic com without having to bother stirring continuously or worrying about the coconut milk burning at the bottom of the pan. With this practical method, anyone can cook delicious and savory chicken opor, even in a boarding house. However, before starting to cook, it is important to know how to choose and clean chicken so that the cooking results are more hygienic and delicious.
Tips for choosing and cleaning chicken before cooking oporTo ensure that the chicken opor cooked in a magic com remains delicious, there are several things you need to pay attention to when choosing and cleaning the chicken:
1. Choose the Right Type of Chicken
- Domestic chicken: It becomes tender faster when cooked and has softer meat. Suitable for practical dishes such as opor in a magic com.
- Free-range chicken : The meat is more chewy and has a more natural savory taste, but it takes longer to become tender. If using free-range chicken, it is better to boil it first before cooking in a magic com.
2. Clean the Chicken Well
- Wash the chicken with running water to remove dirt and remaining blood.
- To remove the fishy smell, coat the chicken with lime juice or vinegar for 5-10 minutes, then rinse again.
- If the chicken has a lot of fat or excess skin, you can cut it so that the opor sauce is not too oily.
After the chicken is clean and ready to be cooked, continue to the process of cooking chicken opor in the magic com.
Chicken opor measurements and portionsBefore you start cooking, adjust the portion sizes to get the right amount of ingredients:
- For 3-4 servings: Use 500 grams of chicken (about a chicken) and adjust the other ingredients.
- For 1-2 servings: Use 250 grams of chicken (about of a chicken or 2 large chicken pieces) and reduce the other ingredients to half of the main recipe measurements.
The main ingredient:
- 500 grams of chicken, cut to taste
- 500 ml liquid coconut milk (can be from coconut or instant coconut milk + water)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
- 2 lime leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- tsp granulated sugar
- tsp powdered stock (optional, for a more savory taste)
- 1 tbsp cooking oil (for frying)
- 300 ml water
Ground spices:
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 5 cloves of shallots
- 2 candlenuts, roasted
- 1 piece of turmeric, roast briefly then peel
- 1 piece of ginger
- tsp coriander powder
- tsp pepper powder
Instant Seasoning Alternatives
If you want to be more practical, use instant opor seasoning that is widely sold in the market. How to:
- For 3-4 servings: Use 1 packet of instant opor seasoning and mix it directly into the magic com with the chicken and coconut milk.
- For 1-2 servings: Use packet of instant opor seasoning with adjusted amounts of coconut milk and water.
1. Saute the spices directly in the Magic Com
- Pour 1 tbsp of cooking oil into the magic com.
- Press the "Cook" button and let the magic com heat up a little.
- Add the ground spices, lemongrass, bay leaves, and lime leaves. Saute until fragrant using a wooden or silicone spatula so that the magic com pan does not get scratched.
2. Add the chicken and stir until the spices are evenly distributed.
- Add the chopped chicken and stir until evenly mixed with the spices.
- Stir fry briefly until the chicken changes color and the spices are more absorbed.
3. Add water and cook until the chicken is tender
- Pour 300 ml of water, then close the magic com.
- Let the chicken cook for 15-20 minutes until half cooked.
4. Add coconut milk and additional spices
- Once the chicken starts to become tender, add liquid coconut milk, salt, granulated sugar, and stock powder.
- If using instant seasoning, add it at this stage and stir until evenly mixed.
- Stir slowly so that the coconut milk does not curdle.
5. Cook until the opor is done
- Close the magic com and leave it in "Cook" mode until the opor boils and the spices are absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Once cooked, leave in "Warm" mode for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend better.
6. Serve the warm chicken opor
- Remove and serve the chicken opor with warm rice, ketupat, or lontong.
- Add fried onions on top to make it more delicious.
- More practical: No need to bother stirring constantly.
- Save energy and time: Cook in one tool without needing lots of kitchen equipment.
- The results are still delicious and the spices are absorbed: With the right technique, the taste is not inferior to opor cooked on the stove.
- Suitable for boarding house children or those who want to cook simply: Can be made with instant spices or natural spices according to taste.
With this recipe, you can enjoy savory and delicious chicken opor without having to bother cooking in a big kitchen. Now, anyone can make delicious chicken opor with just a magic com!
(brl/tin)