Ayam Goreng Mentega / Butter Fried Chicken

Ayam Goreng Mentega (Butter Fried Chicken)

A favorite in many Indonesian and Chinese households, this dish features juicy fried chicken coated in a sticky, sweet, soy-butter sauce. It’s best enjoyed with steaming hot jasmine rice and sliced cucumbers. Although chicken thighs on the bone are preferred, you can also use boneless chicken or substitute tofu or paneer for a vegetarian option. We make this very often at home, mostly for lunch.

**Ingredients:**

– 4 full chicken legs with skin (about 800 grams), each cut into 4 pieces

**Marinade:**

• – 1 tbsp lime juice
• – 1 tbsp soy sauce
• – 2 tbsp cornflour
• – 1/2 tsp salt
• – 1/2 tsp pepper
• – 1/2 tsp mushroom powder or MSG

**For the Sauce:**

• – 1 tbsp oil
• – 6 cloves of garlic, bashed
• – 2-3 tbsp unsalted butter (or margarine like Blue Band)
• – 1 thickly sliced onion
• – 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• – 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• – 2 tbsp kecap manis or 1 tbsp honey
• – 1 tbsp chili sauce (optional)

– Salt to taste

• – 2 tsp sugar
• – 1/4 tsp MSG
• – 1/2 cup water
• – 1 tsp kaffir lime juice (or regular lime juice if unavailable)

**Instructions:**

1. **Marinate the Chicken:**
2. – Combine the lime juice, soy sauce, cornflour, salt, pepper, and mushroom powder or MSG in a bowl.
3. – Add the chicken pieces, ensuring they are well-coated.
4. – Let the chicken marinate for 20 minutes.

**Fry the Chicken:**

– Deep fry the marinated chicken pieces until they are light golden brown. – Set aside.

**Prepare the Sauce:**

– In a saucepan, heat 1 tbsp of oil.

1. – Sauté the bashed garlic cloves until pale golden.
2. – Add 2-3 tbsp of unsalted butter (or margarine) and allow it to melt.
3. – Add the thickly sliced onion and sauté until slightly softened but still retaining some bite.
4. – Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, kecap manis or honey, and chili sauce (if using).
5. – Season with salt, sugar, and MSG.
6. – Pour in 1/2 cup of water and bring the mixture to a bubble.

1. **Combine and Serve:**
2. – Add the fried chicken to the sauce and stir quickly to combine.
3. – Add about 1 tsp of kaffir lime juice and mix well.
4. – Serve hot with steamed jasmine rice and sliced cucumbers.

**Notes:** – Ensure the onions remain slightly crisp to retain their texture. – If kaffir lime juice is unavailable, regular lime juice can be used as a substitute.

Enjoy your Ayam Goreng Mentega!