Home » Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang 马来西亚冷当咖喱鸡

Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang 马来西亚冷当咖喱鸡

by Angie Liew
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Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang Feature Photo 马来西亚冷当咖喱鸡

Traditional Chicken Rendang Recipe: A Dry Curry Dish With Incredible Flavour

Rendang is a dry type of curry. Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang is a version of dry chicken curry dish and is one of the specialties in Malaysian cooking. This Chicken Rendang is so rich in flavours and spices that you will never have enough once it’s cooked. The spices used in cooking this dish also serve as natural organic preservation and together with the slow cooking of the chicken, this flavourful dish can be kept for a long time.

 

Chicken Rendang, A Versatile Dish and The Perfect Nasi Lemak Accompaniment

Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang is also a dish that is extremely versatile. You can serve this flavourful rendang dish with steamed white or saffron rice, ketupat (a compressed rice cake) or lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes) and thick slices of bread.

Of course, this dish is also the best enjoyed alongside the classic Nasi Lemak (Coconut Milk Rice). You can find recipe to make our all time favourite Nasi Lemak here.

 

Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang Feature Photo 3 马来西亚冷当咖喱鸡

A Traditional Dry Curry Delicacy with Various Spices

Cooking Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang involves pounding or grinding many types of spices, as well as slow cooking and continuously churning the chicken meat until all of the liquids has evaporated and the chicken is done. Hence, it can be time-consuming and requires some patience. However, the outcome is just amazing especially with kerisik (toasted and pounded coconut) mixed in at the end of the cooking process.

 

Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - serve with rice

Chicken Rendang is A Real Treat For Curry Lovers

It is indeed a real treat especially for the curry lovers. The chicken pieces are slowly cooked in coconut milk and spices until almost dry, allowing the meat to absorb all the condiments. The slow simmering process allows the chicken meat to absorb all the spices and become tender. Great care however is required to ensure the chicken meat is not overcooked or burnt. Because of the generous use of many types of spices, this Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang has a complex and special taste that is unique to Malaysian Cuisine.

Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang is a must-have dish for my family whenever there is a family gathering or special occasion. On second thought, as it’s easy (although time consuming) and aromatic, we need not wait for an occasion to cook it anymore. Enjoy!

 

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Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang 马来西亚冷当咖喱鸡

Recipe by Huang Kitchen, Angie Liew
Rendang is a type of dry curry and one of the specialties in Malaysian cooking. This Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang is so rich in flavours and spices that you will never have enough of it!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes

Tap or Hover to Adjust Servings

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients
 

  • 1.5 kg chicken, cut into bite size
  • 1 cup grated coconut, for kerisik
  • 1 cup Thick coconut milk
  • 30 gram palm sugar, coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp salt, to taste
  • 1 galangal, (lengkuas) 2.5cm, peeled and crushed
  • 3 stalks lemongrass, (serai) crushed
  • 1 turmeric leaf, (daun kunyit) crushed
  • 1 turmeric leaf, (daun kunyit) finely sliced
  • 2 kaffir leaves, crushed
  • 2 kaffir leaves, finely sliced

Ingredients to be ground (A)

  • 5 red chillies, seeded
  • 20 dried chillies, soaked and seeded

Ingredients to be ground (B)

  • 20 shallots, peeled
  • 5 clove garlic, peeled
  • 5 candlenuts, (buah keras)
  • 1 galangal, (lengkuas) 2.5 cm knob, peeled
  • 1 ginger, 2.5 cm knob, peeled
  • 1 turmeric, (kunyit) 2.5 cm knob, peeled
  • 3 stalks lemongrass, (serai)

    Instructions
     

    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cut chicken
      First wash chicken and cut into pieces. Chicken is normally cut into large pieces to allow for longer cooking and for the curry to dry out.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - season with salt
      Season with salt and set aside.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - spice ingredients
      Prepare all the spice (rempah) ingredients needed to make this dish.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - pounded spice
      Cut all the spice ingredients to prepare for blending or pounding into paste.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - deseed dried chilli
      Remove seeds from the dried red chillies.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - soak dried chilli
      Soaked the dried chillies in hot water till soft and drained.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cut chilli
      Remove seeds from red chillies and cut into smaller pieces.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add water
      Place the cut dried and red chillies with some water added in a blender.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - chilli paste
      Blend into a coarse paste and set aside.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - chop garlic
      Remove skin from garlic and cut into smaller pieces.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - slice shallot
      Remove skin and slice shallots into thin pieces.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cut galangal
      Wash the skin of galangal thoroughly. Scrubbed the skin till clean of dirt traces and cut into small chunks.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cut ginger
      Scape the edge of a spoon or knife against the ginger to peel off the skin. Then cut into small pieces.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cut lemongrass
      Wash thoroughly lemongrass under running water to remove all the dirt. Peel off a few of the outer layers from the bulb. With a sharp knife, chop off a little of the beginning portion of the bulb and discard. Then chop the bulb into small pieces.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add water in spice
      Place all the cut spices and turmeric piece into a blender with a little water added.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - spice paste
      Blend into a coarse paste.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - crush lemongrass galangal
      Also clean and crush another 3 lemongrass ( about 3 inches of the root end) and a piece of galangal (to be fried in the oil). Then set aside. Crushing helps to release the aroma from these ingredients.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - shred turmeric leaf
      Remove the midrib and stalk of turmeric leaf. Roll the long turmeric leaf together and shred finely using a sharp knife.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - shred kaffir leaf
      Also, remove the midrib and stalk of young kaffir leaves. Roll together and slice thinly using a sharp knife.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - saute lemongrass galangal
      Add cooking oil into a heated wok over medium low heat and saute the crushed lemongrass and galangal until fragrant.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - stir fry chilli paste
      Then stir fry with the red chilli paste.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add spice paste
      Next, add in the blended spice paste.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - saute paste
      Mix all the spice ingredients together and continue to saute for about 5 to 10 minutes until aromatic and the oil begins to separate from the paste and the paste has darken considerably.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add chicken
      At this point, add in the chicken pieces.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add chicken
      Stir fry the chicken with the aromatic spice paste until the skin begins to brown slightly and all the chicken has been well coated with the spice.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add coconut milk
      Then add thick coconut milk.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add turmeric kaffir leaves
      Followed by the crushed kaffir and turmeric leaves.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add palm sugar
      Next, add in palm sugar (gula melaka) or sugar. Continue stirring occasionally as you bring the curry to a boil.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - simmer
      Then lower heat to low and leave to simmer UNCOVERED for 30 minutes. Stir constantly to make sure everything is cooked evenly and does not stick to the bottom of the wok.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cooking kerisik
      Meanwhile, prepare kerisik by dry frying freshly grated coconut under medium low heat until it is well toasted and turn brown and aromatic, about 10 minutes.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - pound kerisik
      Then pound the kerisik (toasted coconut) in a mortar as this will help release some of the oils within as well as to intensify the nutty aroma.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cool kerisik
      Then set aside the pounded kerisik to cool before use.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add kerisik
      After 30 minutes, add kerisik and stir well to incorporate into the chicken rendang gravy.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add shredded kaffir leaves
      Also add in the finely shredded kaffir and turmeric leaves.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - add salt
      Lastly, add in salt and adjust taste accordingly.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - cook
      Continue to cook for another 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked and tender and the gravy is thick and reduced. And we're done!
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang Feature Photo 2 马来西亚冷当咖喱鸡
      Dish out onto a serving casserole garnish with finely shred turmeric leaves and kerisik for added flavour.
    • Traditional Malaysian Chicken Rendang recipe - serve with rice
      Serve with steamed or saffron rice. As always, ENJOY!

Enjoy!

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Notes

All spices are to be washed and dried before blending.
Be sure to use enough oil as it ensures that the spice (rempah) cooks evenly.
The spice is sufficiently cooked when the oil separates from the paste forming two distinct layers.
Do not cover the wok while simmering the chicken rendang as we want the sauce to reduce and become thick.
Kerisik (toasted grated coconut) is an absolute must in all renderings as it renders a distinct fragrant nutty aroma, imparted through the toasting of the grated coconut.
Kerisik can be made ahead of time and it can be stored in the freezer for months before use.
Remove turmeric leaves, kaffir leaves and galangal from dish before serving.
Rendang always taste better when served the next day.
This dish has little gravy and chicken must not be overcooked or rendang will look messy with chicken meat and bone separated.
The cooked spices (rempah) can be divided and packed into bags to be chilled or frozen for future use.
Keyword: chicken, Coconut Milk

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2 comments

Erica S December 25, 2020 - 3:34 pm

I like the recipy

Reply
Angie Liew December 27, 2020 - 5:23 pm

Thanks and Enjoy!

Reply
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