Best 2 Indonesian Beggars Chicken Clay Pot Recipes

Indonesian Beggars Chicken, also known as Ayam Panggang Bambu, is a unique and flavorful dish that originated in Indonesia. This traditional recipe involves stuffing a whole chicken with a mixture of aromatic herbs, spices, and vegetables, then wrapping it in banana leaves and baking it inside a bamboo stick over hot coals. The result is a tender, juicy chicken with a crispy skin and a smoky, herbal aroma. This article provides step-by-step instructions for preparing Indonesian Beggars Chicken, along with variations such as the flavorful Sambal Hijau and the tangy Sambal Merah sauces, and a refreshing Cucumber Salad to complement the main dish. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey to savor this authentic Indonesian delicacy.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

INDONESIAN BEGGAR'S CHICKEN (CLAY POT)

Indonesian Beggar's Chicken (Clay Pot) image

This is done in a clay cooker, such as a Romertopf. Serve with basmati or jasmine rice. Remember the clay cooker needs to be soaked in water and put into a COLD oven.

Provided by Mikekey *

Categories Chicken

Time 3h30m

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
3 clove garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp tamarind paste
1 serrano chile, seeded and chopped
1 anchovy fillet, drained and chopped
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
4-5 lb whole chicken

Steps:

1. In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients, except chicken, and blend to a paste.
2. Rinse Chicken and pat dry with paper towel. Place on a plate and spread one third of the paste on the inside of the chicken. Spread remaining paste on outside of chicken and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
3. Soak 3-quart clay cooker (top and bottom) in water for 15 minutes.
4. Place chicken in soaked clay cooker and cover with lid. Place in a COLD oven. Set temperature to 450F and cook for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
5. Remove chicken from cooker and let rest on platter for 10 minutes before carving.
6. Meanwhile, pour the pan juices from the cooker into a small bowl and let sit until ready to serve. Just before serving, skim off any fat that has risen to the surface. Carve chicken and serve with the pan juices.

BEGGAR'S CHICKEN

Beggar's Chicken image

Here is a traditional recipe from Hangzhou, a Chinese city long known for its gorgeous scenery and place in the Southern Song Dynasty. From that era comes this chicken, which is stuffed with a savory pork mixture and then encased in clay before baking. The clay lends the chicken an unearthly tenderness. This is a weekend project, yes, but one well worth tackling.

Provided by Craig Claiborne And Pierre Franey

Categories dinner, project, main course

Time 3h30m

Yield Four servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 chicken, 2 1/2 pounds ready-to-cook weight
Salt to taste, if desired
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
3 tablespoons shaohsing wine or dry sherry
6 dried black mushrooms
1/2 cup shredded Sichuan preserved vegetable, available in cans in Chinese markets (see first note)
1/3 cup peanut, corn or vegetable oil
1/4 pound ground pork, preferably not too lean
1 cup thinly sliced bamboo shoots
1/2 teaspoon sugar
11 pounds, approximately, sculptor's or potter's earth clay (see second note)

Steps:

Rub the chicken inside and out with salt, half of the soy sauce and half of the wine. Set aside for at least one hour.
Meanwhile, put the mushrooms in a small mixing bowl and add warm water to cover. Let stand half an hour or until the caps are softened. Drain and squeeze to extract and discard excess moisture. Cut off and discard the tough stems. Cut the caps into thin slivers and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the preserved vegetable into thin slivers. If it has been packed in a shredded state, shred it further. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a wok or skillet and add the pork. Cook, stirring rapidly, until it loses its raw look. Add the mushrooms, preserved vegetable and bamboo shoots. Add the remaining soy sauce, remaining wine, salt and sugar. Cook, stirring, one minute. Set aside to cool.
Stuff the mixture inside the chicken.
Fold the wing tips under the chicken. Truss the chicken as neatly as possible with string.
Lay out a large rectangle of aluminum foil on a flat surface. Place the chicken in the center. Wrap the chicken as compactly as possible inside the foil.
Gather together a large handful of the clay. Flatten this handful to a thickness of about one inch and apply it to one outside section of the foil-wrapped chicken. Place another flattened handful of clay slightly overlapping and press to seal the two pieces together. Continue applying handfuls of clay, pressing as you work, until the chicken is completely and compactly covered with clay. Smooth the clay over as you work. You may bake the chicken at this point or you may ''sculpt'' the product with additional pieces of clay, shaping it to resemble a whole bird with beak, feet, eyes, tail feathers and so on.
Place in the oven and bake 45 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees. As the clay bakes, it may develop cracks. As these are noticed, seal the cracks by smearing on a little more clay.
Continue baking the chicken for 30 minutes. If desired, you may then paint the clay with poster paint or watercolors.
To serve, crack the clay, remove the chicken and peel away and discard the foil. Carve the chicken and serve with the preserved-vegetable stuffing.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 694, UnsaturatedFat 38 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 54 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 43 grams, SaturatedFat 12 grams, Sodium 991 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

Choose a high-quality chicken for the best flavor and texture.
Use a variety of vegetables to add flavor and color to the dish.
Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices and herbs.
Make sure to soak the clay pot in water for at least 30 minutes before using it.
Cook the chicken over low heat to prevent it from drying out.
Let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Conclusion:

Indonesian Beggars Chicken cooked in a clay pot is a delicious and flavorful dish that is sure to impress your friends and family. The combination of tender chicken, savory vegetables, and aromatic spices creates a dish that is both satisfying and comforting. Follow these tips to make the perfect Indonesian Beggars Chicken: