Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• To Make the Spice Paste:
  • 8 pcs shallots, peeled
  • Dried chilies, seeds separated
  • Fresh red chilies, seeds separated
  • 5 pcs candlenuts
  • ½ head garlic, peeled
  • 1 pc of ginger
  • 2 pcs lemongrass, roughly chopped
  • 20g of Belachan
• Others
  • 3 lbs of chicken, use bony parts
  • 3 pcs of potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 2 cups of coconut milk
  • 2 cups of chicken stock
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 pcs star anise
  • 4 pcs cloves
  • 6 pcs green cardamoms
  • 6 pcs curry leaves
  • oil

Instructions

1. Combine all the spices in the food processor until it becomes a paste. Add the dried and fresh chilies to adjust the hotness that you want.
2. In a bowl, combine the spice paste and the chicken then let it marinate for 30 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a big wok then sauté cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, green cardamoms, and curry leaves, stir fry until fragrant.
4. Add the marinated chicken together and fry on low heat until it’s really fragrant.
5. Pour the chicken stock and turn the heat to high, bringing it to boil.
6. Lower heat, cover the wok, then let it simmer for 10 minutes.
   Add the potatoes, cover again, then simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
7. Add coconut milk, cover, then simmer for 20 more minutes. Serve with rice, noodles, or other food of your choice.

Favorite Meal Essay

After a long day of back to back schedule with school and swim practice, all I was looking for is dinner. I dropped my duffle bag on the floor of my bedroom and immediately lay on the bed. The snow is falling, my stomach is growling, and my body is in pain like I could almost hear it screaming for help. It was six o’clock at night which is usually the time that my mom cooks for dinner. Every day seems like a guessing game between my brother and I as to what she will be cooking, and thoughts came to my mind. What does it smell like? What does it sound like? Then an overbearing smell of curry spread into my room like wildfire. A strong yet satisfying smell to know that your mom has cooked your favorite meal, the spicy chicken curry. It’s the perfect meal to eat on a cold, winter night from the warmth of the curry. The spicy chicken curry is not only my favorite meal but also came with some of my favorite memories with it.

I grew up in a city of Jakarta, Indonesia which is a central place with many delicious foods including thousands of different spices. I was surrounded by street restaurants that would close later, which makes the perfect late-night trips. The spicy chicken curry, or kari ayam, is one of the most popular food in Indonesia, which has been adapted to various versions. It’s always my go-to meal for any type of situation. Some restaurants may have curries that are too sweet, too spicy, or too salty. I’ve tried plenty of spicy chicken curries in my life, but no one cooks it like my mom. My mom’s signature version of spicy chicken curry was the perfect combination of all of the above. She has mastered the spicy chicken curry to the point that no one would be able to top hers.

My mom’s version of the spicy chicken curry has a distinct smell and taste, unlike the other curries that I’ve tried. It usually takes about an hour to make and even though my mom said that, “it’s pretty simple to make,” I don’t believe that for a second as someone who doesn’t know how to cook. The ingredients of the shallots, garlic, dried and fresh chilies, ginger, green cardamoms, curry leaves, and all of the other spices work together to create the sharp scent and flavors of the spicy chicken curry. There is a way to make the curry from scratch, however, my mom used the Watch Brand Curry Powder- Penang, Malaysia which she claimed that it was her “special ingredient and the best curry powder you could find”. One thing that I love about the spicy chicken curry is how versatile it is. It can be served just the curry itself, with rice, or noodles of your choice. It would make the perfect family dinner as everyone loves curry and everyone can eat with anything they want.

The spicy chicken curry holds a special place in my heart, but my mom also has many memories that came from this dish. It is one of the dishes that my mom grew up with to cook and eat, and it always reminds her of her family. Most of my families live in Indonesia including my grandparents, cousins, and other relatives. They’re across the world and we only see them from time to time. The spicy chicken curry made her think of her hometown and how it is always served in family gatherings. She said, “It’s just that good. It’s truly the perfect comfort food with the balance between the spiciness, sweetness, and the saltiness”. This is a popular dish among the Fendiana family as she said that, “Everyone loves it and everyone always up for it, so why not? It makes it easier for me to cook something that everyone would like”.

It’s amusing to find that a simple dish of spicy chicken curry could have many memories tied with it. Every time my mom cooks this dish, she would ask me to taste it and if it needs more salt or more of anything. My mom and I would have long conversations about what went on our day as she took a few teaspoons of curry powder into the pan. The spicy chicken curry held many small moments that made us bond and have conversations that we wouldn’t have the time for. The dish holds its value by creating a closer relationship between my mom and I. The spicy chicken curry reminds me of the home especially ever since college started. It reminds me of being together with my family, the conversations that we would have, and the moments that the dish was created. Between the Ripich Commons dining hall food, mac and cheese cups, and my empty wallet, all I want is a bowl of spicy chicken curry.

The idea of choosing a favorite meal intimidate me as I brainstorm through all kinds of meals I had and the memories behind them. It is interesting to know that a dish like spicy chicken curry could hold such values and memories that meant more than anything. Even though it is a common dish that my mom cooks, it’s also an important dish that held many recollections of what went on the family. The curry has a clear scent with all of its major ingredients that makes up the spices. All of these ingredients depict the memories that are made with my family and I. It made my mom think of her childhood moments where she would have chicken curries at family gatherings. It also made me think of all kinds of bonds that were connected by the spicy chicken curry.